Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez was forced to miss the Jerez test due to his ongoing recovery from diplopia.

HRC Team boss Alberto Puig spoke from the Andalucian circuit, where Pol Espargaro completed Friday fourth in the times and seventh overall, to offer an update on the eight-time world champion’s current condition and ongoing plans.

With further checks required, and scheduled in the christmas break, decisions on the Spaniard’s return to action and rehabilitation will be delayed until the Honda outfit have more details on the full extent of the situation.

“The important thing is how he is, and he is more or less the same as we explained [in Portimao and Valencia]” Puig said from Jerez. “He needs some time to rest, recover and see if all this area around the eye is getting less swollen, coming down and becoming calmer. Then we will see.

“Around Christmas time we will have another check with the doctor and we will see what the situation is. Then we will probably make decisions on what the possibilities are.

“Of course, he’s not happy about not being here,” Puig continued regarding the 28-year-old’s frustrations. “At the same time, he understands that what he needs now is to be resting and to be patient, and this is the situation.”