Injured Jacque exhausted by race

The French rider qualified a season-best fourth in the wet on Saturday, but could only finish 16th in the race.

He had returned to action at Mugello after sustaining severe arm lacerations in practice at the previous round at Le Mans.

"I finished the race, which was our priority, and I was surprised to be able to keep the rhythm, but now I am really exhausted," Jacque said.

"The race was in dry conditions and this track is really demanding as well, so after seven laps I started to lose the strength in the arm.

"I couldn't be precise and I didn't want to take any risks and, instead, save energy for the rest of the race. I was sweating a lot for the last laps."

Jacque said that his physical condition meant he was unable to take on Sylvain Guintoli and Makoto Tamada's Tech 3 Yamahas at the end of the race.

"I tried to overtake Guintoli and Tamada," he said. "Unfortunately, they were stronger than I was on the brakes at the end of the straight and I couldn't take advantage of our engine."