Jorge Lorenzo will fly to Thailand next week in a bid to race in the country's inaugural MotoGP event, despite suffering a foot injury in a crash during the Aragon Grand Prix.
The Ducati rider suffered a dislocation of the big toe and a compound fracture of the second metatarsal of his right foot when he was ejected from his GP18 at the first corner on the opening lap of the Aragon race.
Lorenzo sensationally blamed future Honda teammate and eventual race winner Marc Marquez for the incident, claiming his aggression “destroyed” his race and his foot.
The Ducati rider's participation was in next weekend's Thailand Grand Prix was immediately plunged into doubt, with doctors predicting a 10-day period for his foot remaining in a cast.
On Thursday afternoon Lorenzo underwent further checks on his foot in Barcelona, with x-rays offering encouraging signs for the Spaniard.
As a result, Lorenzo has decided to fly to Thailand to attempt to race, though this will be subject to further medical checks by MotoGP doctors in Buriram next week.
Since the incident, Lorenzo has taken to social media to defend his view on the incident, with the opinion from current and ex-riders who have weighed in split.
While still firmly in the belief Marquez caused him to crash, Lorenzo revealed on Twitter earlier this week that the Honda rider called him to check on his recovery.
Marquez responded to Lorenzo's tweet by saying: “Recover soon, see you in Thailand”.
Ducati would not need to find an immediate replacement for Lorenzo should he be declared unfit for the Thailand race, though it is likely test rider Michele Pirro will take his place in that event.
Next weekend's Thailand Grand Prix marks the first of four Pacific flyaway races, with a gruelling triple-header consisting of the Japanese, Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix beginning a fortnight later.
Marquez's Aragon victory moved him 71 points clear in the championship and, depending on the outcome of the Thailand race, can win a fifth premier class title at Motegi two weeks later.
Lorenzo's non-finish last time out – his second race in succession without points following a penultimate lap tumble at Misano – keeps him fourth in the standings equal on 130 points with Yamaha's Maverick Vinales and 44 adrift of second-placed Ducati teammate Andrea Dovizioso.
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