Tito Rabat “believes” he can return to MotoGP action for the Thailand Grand Prix next month, though admits his doctors have “the final say” on his comeback.
The Avintia Ducati rider has been absent since suffering a triple-fractured right leg in a horror incident during a wet FP4 at Silverstone, when he was struck by Franco Morbidelli's Marc VDS Honda while standing in the Stowe gravel trap.
Rabat was taken to hospital in Coventry where he underwent “emergency surgery”, though was able to take his first assisted steps just 24 hours later.
Forced to miss the recent Misano race, in an interview with motogp.com Rabat says it is “certain” he will sit out the Aragon round despite feeling like he "could" – albeit not at full fitness – but hopes to be on the grid for MotoGP's first visit to Thailand.
“It's certain that I won't be going to Aragon,” he said.
“I think, meeting the goals, I could go, but not [ride] at 100 percent. I'd really like to go to Thailand, I believe that can be there.
“But the doctors have the final say, they're taking care of my leg.”
Speaking about his condition, Rabata says he is “over the worst” of his recovery and is now able to begin training again.
“I'm much better, I can sleep well and almost bend my knee 100 percent. Now I can start to bear weight and can support 30 percent of my body.
“Little by little, we're now past the most difficult phase and can start doing exercises and working on my flexibility.
“We're over the worst of it and I'm keen to get back on my bike.”
Rabat also recalled the incident at Silverstone, in which he was forced to bail from his GP17 after it aquaplaned.
Taking a moment to get to his feet, he admits has “learned” to move away from a crash site as quick as possible now, and says he was 'lucky' to see Alex Rins warn him of Morbidelli's errant bike.
“I remember that I was at the end of the straight, I was in sixth gear and the bike started aquaplaning,” he added.
“I couldn't stop, so I jumped off the bike and rolled away, then stayed for a moment on the floor. This was a bad decision and something I've learned, to not stay there [after a crash].
“Luckily I could see Rins, who was warning me, and I turned and saw Morbidelli's bike heading for me.
“I jumped up and the bike hit my leg, not my body. My leg was like a snake. Doctor [Angel] Charte and the medical team came to help me. They relieved a lot of the pain.”
Rabat's bikes were taken by teammate Xavier Simeon at Misano, while CEV Superstock 1000 rider Christophe Ponsson took his place, riding Simeon's machinery.
22-year-old Ponsson qualified last and was the final classified runner in 23rd in his debut race, while Avintia came under fire from numerous riders regarding the safety of fielding someone with no MotoGP experience and an underwhelming career CV.
Despite this, Ponsson looks likely to remain as Rabat's replacement for the Aragon round, though it is not known if he will be on stand-by for Thailand should Rabat be unable to ride.
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