Cal Crutchlow has withdrawn from the Italian MotoGP race at which he was set to wildcard.

The Yamaha MotoGP test rider was announced as wildcarding at the Italian, British, and San Marino Grands Prix earlier this year, but surgery on the British rider’s right hand has forced him to withdraw from the first of those.

A social media post from Yamaha revealed the reason for Crutchlow’s withdrawal to be surgery on his right hand, in which he had been complaining of pain this year.

“The official test rider was suffering from right hand pain this year and underwent a procedure to fix it,” the post reads. “However, complications prohibit him from entering the Italian GP.”

Crutchlow’s absence from the Mugello race is a blow to Yamaha not only for the Grand Prix itself but also for the official test that is due to take place at the Italian circuit on the Monday after the race. It will be the second of three in-season tests during 2024, with the third coming after the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano in September.

Crutchlow is still set to appear at that race, and therefore at the test as well, and his Silverstone wildcard in August is still scheduled, too.

The Italian Grand Prix will take place on 31 May - 2 June, while the next round of the 2024 MotoGP World Championship, the Catalan Grand Prix, will take place this weekend (24-26 May) at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.