Image: Supplied.

Ducati Team’s Jorge Lorenzo is aiming to return to racing at next weekend’s Japanese round of the 2018 MotoGP World Championship at Motegi, currently recovering from a hairline fracture of his left wrist.

Triple MotoGP world champion Lorenzo crashed heavily during Friday’s FP2 at Buriram in Thailand, forcing him out of action for the remainder of the weekend, and scans on Saturday revealed the extent of his wrist injury sustained.

“After my crash and the results of final tests, I decided in agreement with the team and the doctors to not take part anymore in this weekend’s race at Buriram,” Lorenzo recalled. “The CT scan revealed a hairline fracture in my left wrist and, in view of the condition I was when I arrived and the way I’m feeling now, I think it’s better I don’t race here in Thailand.

“[I will] try and recover as much as possible for the next GP in Japan. I feel really bad for the team but, also in consideration of my situation in the championship, it wouldn’t make sense to take any further risks so I think I’ve made the right decision.”

Already dealing with the effects of a foot injury suffered at Aragon, Lorenzo was a lowly 17th on the time-sheets in Thailand’s opening practice prior to his high-speed incident. It’s understood the cause of the crash was a mechanical failure.