Loris Capirossi will make his second comeback from injury at this weekend's German Grand Prix - an event he finished second at one year ago.
The Rizla Suzuki rider missed
Donington Park after fracturing a hand during a collision with
Alex de Angelis at Catalunya, then sustained a large puncture wound in his right arm on his return at the Dutch TT.
The injury forced Capirossi to miss the remainder of the Assen weekend but the experienced Italian has worked hard with his own doctors to maximise the healing process and is convinced he is fit enough to return at Sachsenring.
Although the hand fracture has now fully repaired, the arm injury from Assen is not 100% healed. Capirossi, Suzuki and senior medical staff all assessed the situation before deciding that he is fit to ride.
"I just can't wait to get back on my bike!" declared Loris. "My arm is still mending and it's quite painful, but it is strong enough to ride with. Also, I have had lots of good advice about how the injury is repairing, and what I should consider about racing.
"But I know my own body very well and the experience I have gathered from riding tells me that I will be able to compete at Sachsenring and give it all I've got. I have missed [two] races and it is now important for me to get back on the bike again, not just for myself but for the whole team and for Suzuki!
"I like Sachsenring and I made a good result there last year that I was really happy about - now I need to get a good result for Suzuki to re-pay them for missing the last [two] races!" he added.
Both Capirossi and team-mate
Chris Vermeulen have taken a best finish of fifth so far this season.
Vermeulen suffered a jump-start in last year's German GP, resulting in a ride-through penalty, but he showed good race pace over the remaining laps at the complicated circuit and fought his way back through the field to eleventh.
