Melandri withdraws from Brno

The Gresini Honda rider suffered the injury during the break between Friday's sessions and sat out second practice.

Despite the best efforts of MotoGP's medic Dr Claudio Costa, Melandri's condition did not improve and he decided he could not race this weekend.

"I'm so sad, I thought I would be 100 percent, but this kind of injury I didn't expect," he told the official series website.

"Suddenly I felt so much pain in my neck, I had no power in my left arm.

"We've been working hard with Dr Costa, but we didn't get a good result. I cannot ride like I want so we prefer to rest and try to be in the best condition for the next race at Misano.

"It's too dangerous for me and for the other riders. I cannot really control myself on the bike."

Melandri had only received medical clearance to race at Brno on the eve of the race weekend after fracturing his ankle in a violent crash at Laguna Seca.

Despite sustaining the injury in practice in California, he still managed to finish on the podium in the race.