Tito Rabat will not take part in this week's Phillip Island MotoGP testing as he recovers from injuries suffered in a test crash in Malaysia two weeks ago.

Rabat fell at Turn 11 of the Sepang circuit and suffered fractures to the right radius and fifth metacarpal in his right hand and a fracture in his right foot, along with an injured left knee. He was sent to Barcelona for several surgeries to insert screws in his right hand. But it was a severe laceration to his left knee that is keeping him off the bike, the team says, because he hasn't regained enough joint mobility. Rabat is aiming to return for testing at the Losail circuit in Qatar, which begins on March 10.

"Tito has worked hard to be fit for the Phillip Island test, after sustaining quite debilitating injuries in Malaysia," team principal Michael Bartholemy said. "While the fractures have healed nicely and wouldn't have stopped him from riding in Australia, the knee injury is a different story altogether. Despite intensive physiotherapy he still doesn't have the necessary extension in the joint and he risks popping the stitches – with the associated danger of infection – if he participates in the Phillip Island test.

"This is why we made the decision together with Tito to give him more time to recover ahead of the Qatar test, rather than risking everything for little gain by having him ride injured in Australia. This is the right decision for him and for the team."

Jack Miller will test as scheduled, and Bartholemy wants him to build off the results he saw in Sepang.

"Jack made a bit of a breakthrough with the setup of the bike in Malaysia, but there is still a lot of work to do if he is to realize his true potential this season," Bartholemy said. "We need to be closer to the top of the timesheet and this will be the goal for Jack and his crew this week in Australia."