Ducati’s Cal Crutchlow will assess his fitness to ride after two sessions of MotoGP free practice at Jerez tomorrow and undergo a further medical before he decides whether to carry on into qualifying on Saturday.

The British rider is still in pain with the finger he broke at Austin and is also suffering with a sunken knuckle which meant he was even struggling to ride a pushbike after the operation. Crutchlow also heavily bruised his lungs in the fall which caused him serious breathing problems.

“It’s sore. It will be difficult to ride. The option was that I wanted to come back, I decided earlier in the week that was what I wanted to do. It wasn’t as simple as just riding, we had to pass a medical today and if I can’t ride then I won’t,” said Crutchlow, speaking at Jerez.

“It’s not just dangerous for me because if there is a guy in front and I can’t stop, it dangerous for everyone. I have to be sensible about it. If I was sat at home for a month, it would be fine but everyday it seems to be getting better.

“Jerez is the worst circuit to come back to, it’s the most physical and there is not straight with no time to relax, braking is really hard for turn one and turn six, it’s not going to be easy.

“We will assess it tomorrow. I have got another medical tomorrow evening and I will speak to the team. It is pointless to carry on if I am just riding around. I felt so bad after the crash. For a week I couldn’t breathe, walk up any stairs, I was absolutely wrecked and we worked out I had bruised lungs.”