Source: Supplied.

Following a three-race absence Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa will return to the MotoGP World Championship this weekend for the 18th round of the 2016 season.

After suffering three fractures (to his right collarbone, right fibula and the fourth metatarsal in his left foot) in a crash during FP2 at the Japanese GP, Pedrosa underwent surgery in Barcelona and afterward began his rehab.

As all of his injuries have been healing well, Pedrosa in agreement with his doctors and his team have decided to return for the final round of the championship at Valencia.

“These past three weeks haven’t been easy because of the pain, especially immediately after the operation, and also because I missed racing at some of my favourite tracks,” Pedrosa said. “Anyway, after I started with my rehab, things began getting better day by day and the thought of trying to recover in time for Valencia was a boost that helped during the tougher moments.

“We’re still not sure about how I’ll feel on the bike, but anyway I’m happy to be able to get back to racing! I love the Valencia track, I have fantastic memories here and I like the idea of getting back to action in front of my fans.”

Following Pedrosa’s crash on the Friday at Motegi, Honda called in Japanese test rider Hiroshi Aoyama in to replace him on the factory RC213V, before 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden returned to the team at Phillip Island. Aoyama completed the Malaysian GP.