German Stefan Bradl will return this weekend in Japan.

LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl has been cleared to contest this weekend’s Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi, the penultimate round of the MotoGP World Championship.

Chief medical officer Dr Tsuyoshi Karasawa and MotoGP medical director Dr Michele Macchiagodena carried out the assessment and Bradl will therefore participate in free practice on Friday.

The German rider broke his ankle in practice in Malaysia, when a minor spill became more serious as he caught his foot in the trackside Astroturf.

The 2011 Moto2 champion underwent immediate surgery and bravely attempted to race at the following weekend’s Australian round, but was ruled out after struggling in the first practice.

“Of course I am happy to be back racing especially on this track which is very important for Honda,” Bradl stated. “On Friday in Australia I was ruled unfit and after that I have been having two physio sessions each day with the Clinica Mobile staff.

“I am off crutches now and the ankle is getting a lot better. I must thank the Clinica Mobile staff for their superb job. Compared with Phillip Island Motegi has a lot of hard braking and slower corners, so I know it will be a tough race but I am keen to jump back on my RCV.”

Since Australia, Bradl has been undergoing twice-daily physiotherapy sessions, and while he will not be at 100 percent, he hopes to be strong enough to give a good account of himself at Motegi.