Fabio Menghi's debut in WorldSBK will be postponed until at least the sixth round of the season, according to the most recent updates the Italian has shared with WorldSBK.com

Menghi fractured his pelvis in the last pre-season test at Phillip Island, just three days before the opening round of 2016 in which he would have been racing.

After surgery at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, the rider was able to return home to Rimini in Italy and is slowly recuperating. Menghi told WorldSBK.com: "When I came back from Australia I immediately visited Dr. Lorena Sangiorgi at the Clinica Mobile because they knew much more than me about the situation.

"They told me that the operation had gone perfectly. I'm doing a lot of electrostimulation to keep my muscles toned. In a week, I will start doing some rehabilitation in the water and swimming, and then in four weeks I start to try and put my feet on the ground. In the next six weeks, I should recover. My hope was to be back for Imola, but the deadlines are getting a bit further away. It all depends on how my body reacts when I stand up for the first time, but I think I'll probably be back in Malaysia or Misano."

In his fall at Phillip Island, Menghi also suffered a dislocated left acromioclavicular joint and news about that is positive. "This will probably solve itself and it seems that I will not need to go back under the knife so that’s something!"

In Thailand, Matteo Baiocco joined VFT Racing as a substitute for Menghi, and quickly got to grips with the Ducati. The Italian had two good points-scoring races and finished in 13^th in both. "He has put in a good performance and if I had not had that problem at the start, I think I could have quietly been in the top 10," said Menghi.

"He will be my replacement in the next few races, because he has been a test rider Ducati, raced this bike last year and knows its potential, and it is also convenient for us to use the experience of a rider like him. When I get back on track, the road ahead will be easier having had a replacement like Matteo, who is fast and a professional.”