Casey Stoner hopes he can make up for lost time after missing test with back issue

The reigning MotoGP champion missed all of today's session in Malaysia - the opening day of 2012 pre-season preparations - having pulled back muscles while warming up.

"I was stretching this morning for a good twenty minutes preparing to go out on track for the first time and then all of a sudden my back just locked up on me, I couldn't move or do anything," said Stoner.

"I had to call someone to come and help me move into a position that was less painful!

"Then I had some physio on it straight away trying to get it better for this afternoon but it wasn't feeling good."

Stoner said while there was a chance he could have got on the bike for the afternoon, he preferred to make certain that he was fit for Wednesday.

"I had some more physio after lunch but it still wasn't easing up," he said.

"I felt I could have gone out on the bike in the afternoon but we all agreed it would probably make it worse for tomorrow.

"We have two more days testing here in Sepang, we know the track well and we are getting to know the bike, we just need some time to test the new parts we have here to give feedback to HRC."

He is confident he can make up for lost time once he is able to start testing.

"I think tomorrow the track conditions will be better and as long as my back improves overnight we should get back on schedule with our testing programme tomorrow," said Stoner.