Injured Jorge Lorenzo will try to race at Laguna Seca

Monterey: Defending MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo, recovering from a second operation on his fractured left collarbone, will try to ride at this weekend`s US Grand Prix.

The Spaniard`s Yamaha team announced Wednesday that Lorenzo will fly to Laguna Seca and hopes to be able to compete after missing last weekend`s race in Germany. Lorenzo originally had said he did not want to risk racing at Laguna Seca and would return next month at Indianapolis but has been pleased at his recovery over the past few days after damaging the titanium plate attached to his collarbone in a practice fall last Friday. "Finally we have decided to go to Laguna Seca," Lorenzo said. "Following the final medical check and after speaking with Doctor (Joaquin) Rodríguez we are going to try. "At the beginning I seriously thought that it might have been convenient to take the necessary time to recover and be back at Indy but in the last two days I have felt much better so now I want to be there, although I will try to not take too many risks." Lorenzo took his only victory at Laguna Seca in 2010 on his way to the world title. He has a series-best three wins this season, including the opener at Losail as well as in Mugello and Catalunya. "Jorge has made the decision to fly to Laguna Seca and, although it will not be easy, he has decided to try despite the pain," Yamaha team manager Wilco Zeelenberg said. "We have another tough weekend ahead of us, especially because the lay-out of the track is physically demanding. Now I am just looking forward to seeing him here with the team and then we will set the strategy." Lorenzo stands third in the season riders` standings, 11 points behind countryman Marc Marquez, a Spanish Honda rider who won at Germany and Austin, Texas, and nine adrift of Spain`s Dani Pedrosa of Honda, who won this year at Le Mans and Jerez. AFP