Pedrosa taped and bandaged.

By Lynne Huntting

Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa is still suffering from his orthopaedic injuries sustained last weekend in Germany. He sprained his right ankle and fractured two fingers of his left hand - index and ring fingers - as well as his wrist.

Prior to flying to the United States, he underwent Arthroscopic surgery, to reduce the finger fractures. According to the team, the procedure isn't exactly surgery. Arthroscopy utilizes very fine, special instruments to look inside joints, and to repair or treat joints, rather than use traditional surgery.

Pedrosa rode with a taped and bandaged right ankle. His left hand was in a special glove, with taping and bandaging around his hand, and around the two injured fingers. The ring finger had a plastic cap on it, similar to a thimble. Pedrosa used his third-middle finger to shift the clutch.

Despite pain killing tablets, immediately after his morning session Pedrosa went to the Medical Centre. He ran 21 laps during the hour-long session, the fewest of the 19 riders on track.

Pedrosa, who is now 16 points behind title leader Valentino Rossi and just four ahead of reigning world champion Casey Stoner, will probably ride in the Friday afternoon MotoGP practice session.