Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo has confirmed he will be riding at this weekend's MotoGP round at Le Mans but acknowledges he is far from 100 per cent fit - however, the French track is one of his favourites.
The Spaniard is currently confined to a wheelchair and the damage to his ankles will take months to fully heal but Lorenzo has no more time to put his feet up, with seven races coming thick and fast over the next ten weeks as the season enters its busiest phase.
He said: "“I was lucky in China! If I’d have landed differently it could have ruled me out until the middle of the season and certainly prevented me from enjoying myself as much as I am in this early part of the season.
"In China I realised the risks in this sport; as riders we have to take a lot of risks and that Sunday in Shanghai, with my emotions and my feelings, I knew I had to go through it and take risks again because my team were depending on me in the box.
"I won’t be at 100% for Le Mans but my mental condition should make me strong at one of my favourite circuits and I am really looking forward to the race just the same. I know my team will help me all that they can and hopefully I will be in good enough shape to challenge strongly, as I have at the first four races. China was unfortunate but now I have to move on!”