Melandri hopes to be fit on Saturday

The Italian, who is still recovering from a fractured ankle he suffered at Laguna Seca last month, experienced a sudden pain in his neck during the morning session today and had to seek medical advice.

He was advised to sit out the afternoon session, but remains upbeat that he will be in better shape by tomorrow.

"I felt confident when I went out on the bike this morning," he said. "The foot was sore, especially in the left-handers, but I rode carefully.

"Then I suddenly felt a shooting pain in my neck and left shoulder and lost all the strength in my arm and hand. I had to come into the pits and I went straight to the clinic. Thanks to the doctors the situation is better although I couldn't ride in the afternoon. Hopefully I'll be okay tomorrow."

Honda Gresini teammate Toni Elias had a much better day on his return to action following his leg-breaking accident at Assen.

"I'm really happy to be back on track and back with the team," said the Spaniard. "When I crashed I immediately set Brno as my objective and I've worked hard since then, seven to eight hours a day, to make sure I was ready.

"I'm obviously not at 100%, probably only 60%, but I'm really motivated. This is a kind of test for me and I rode in the morning and afternoon without really pushing. It went better than I expected.

"This is a physically demanding circuit because there are so many changes in direction. My leg is really sore but I'm riding with a special protector which is elastic on the inside and carbon on the outside.

"I'm also adapting to the changes to the bike - we've got a new frame, new exhaust and some engine updates. I'm looking forward to the rest of the weekend now. I've won my first battle, which was to get back on the bike here at Brno."