Enea Bastianini has become the latest rider to confirm he won’t be competing in this weekend’s Grand Prix of The Americas, round three of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship.

Ducati test and reserve rider Michele Pirro will race in his place alongside team-mate and defending champion Pecco Bagnaia at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).

Bastianini has been sidelined since an accident in the inaugural Sprint Race at Portimao triggered by stablemate Luca Marini low-siding at Turn 5 and collecting the 2020 Moto2 World Champion as he slid out wide.

Flicking the Italian into a high-side, the heavy fall left Bastianini nursing a broken clavicle that has already ruled him out of the main Portuguese MotoGP and both races at the following event in Argentina.

Undergoing a medical to assess his fitness ahead of the weekend, it was decided that Bastianini needs further time on the sidelines to recover.

Bastianini’s withdrawal represents another blow for one of the pre-season title favourites, not least because COTA played host to one of his four victories on the satellite Gresini Ducati in 2022.

“After completing a few laps at Misano with the Panigale V4S, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider underwent a further check-up in Forlì at Dr Porcellini's clinic, who confirmed that Bastianini will still need a few more weeks to fully recover from the right shoulder injury sustained in the Portuguese GP.

“Enea will therefore continue his rehabilitation with the aim of returning to the track in Jerez and will be replaced in Texas by Michele Pirro.”

Bastianini’s withdrawal means three of the four riders forced out of the Argentina MotoGP due to injuries sustained in Portugal are spending an extended time on the sidelines.

He is joined by Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro, with the participation of the other - Miguel Oliveira - remains in doubt pending his own medical.

However, unlike Argentina, both Ducati and GasGas will field substitutes with Pirro and the returning Jonas Folger.