Honda MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa says he is unsure whether he will be able to complete Austin’s race due to the pain he is suffering from his broken wrist.
Pedrosa fractured his right wrist in a crash at the previous round in Argentina, undergoing surgery in the aftermath, and opted to travel to Austin to assess his fitness.
Pedrosa was passed fit by MotoGP’s doctors and went on to qualify in ninth place, but he expressed doubt over whether he can handle a race distance.
He had previously said that points at Austin would make the pain “worthwhile”.
When asked about his wrist in qualifying compared to Friday’s practice sessions, Pedrosa said: “I struggled more, I had more pain, clearly more pain.
“I had a little more movement in the grip, so a little more freedom to move on the bike, but more pain.
“I don’t know if I can handle all the race, if I even finish, but we will plan a little bit more carefully for painkillers for the race.
“I hope this can make the difference and I can try to get through the full laps.”
Pedrosa explained that, aside from the pain, the position of his injury is also complicating his ability to extract the maximum from his Honda.
“The brake is difficult, but also the control,” he said. “To change direction [in the] race it is really tough, more so where I use the bone in changing the direction of the bike, and also moving my body from side to side.
“I am a little bit stiff there, I cannot put my body in the position the bike needs all the time but you know, still I cannot believe I am here today.”