Avintia Blusens CRT rider Hiroshi Aoyama will assess his fitness a day before the
MotoGP test at Sepang in Malaysia as his recovery from a wrist injury is taking longer than expected.
Aoyama, who returns to the
MotoGP class after riding for Honda in World Superbikes, sustained a fractured wrist during a motocross accident almost two weeks ago.
MotoGP.com reports that the Japanese rider visited the USP Dexeus University Institute in Barcelona this week, where his consultant Dr. Xavier Mir confirmed that the swelling had gone down and that he could move the wrist.
However, Aoyama was advised not to move the wrist for another week in order to speed up the healing process.
As such, Aoyama is facing a race against time to be ready to participate in the Sepang test, which gets under way on Tuesday.
He has travelled to Malaysia today and will assess his fitness on Monday prior to making a final decision on whether or not he is fit enough to take part in the three-day shakedown.
Aoyama won the final 250cc grand prix title in 2009, and then moved to the
MotoGP class with Interwetten Honda.
After an injury-interrupted debut season in the premier-class, he switched to Gresini Honda for 2011, where he scored a
MotoGP best of fourth at the damp
Jerez race.
Aoyama then made an unsuccessful move to
World Superbikes for 2012, where he managed just 18th in the standings with Ten Kate Honda.
Hector Barbera will ride alongside Aoyama on the Avintia FTR-Kawasakis this year.