Loris Capirossi determined to race in Estoril

Loris Capirossi will brave the pain of numerous right leg injuries to try and ride in this weekend’s Estoril Grand Prix in Portugal.

The Italian veteran missed the last race in Australia when a heavy qualifying crash left him with a damaged Abductor muscle in his right leg.

But on returning back to Italy for further assessment, the triple world champion also discovered he’d suffered three fractures in his right foot as a result of a crash in the recent Sepang race in Malaysia.

The 37-year-old though, who will partner Randy de Puniet in the Pramac Ducati squad in 2011, still intends to try and ride in Portugal this weekend ahead of the season’s finale in Valencia on November 7.

He said: “It was disappointing to find out I had got some small fractures in my foot, but it won’t stop me riding, because I was ok in Australia and it didn’t cause me too many problems there – in fact it is easier to ride the bike than it is to walk!

“I have had some intensive treatment on the thigh muscle and that is also a lot better.

“I can’t wait to get back on my bike and give the guys something back for all their patience and hard-work over the season, especially after the tough three-week tour we had on the other side of the world which gave us nothing but pain and bike damage.

“Suzuki and the team have always been good to me and I want to show them that I am here to do my best and compete with the best riders.”