Randy de Puniet hopeful on home race fitness

Randy de Puniet is facing a race against time to be fully fit for his crucial home race in Le Mans this weekend.

The Pramac Ducati underwent further medical checks on his left knee last Thursday to assess his recovery from recent surgery to remove a screw from his leg.

The former factory Kawasaki rider had the screw inserted in his knee after be broke his left leg in a crash during the Sachsenring MotoGP round in Germany last July.

He rode to a gutsy 10th place in last weekend’s Estoril race in Portugal but was in agony after the 28-lap race and was unable to ride his GP11 Ducati at a post race test.

The ex-LCR Honda rider feared ligament damage but he said: “I had all the tests and I’m happy because I don’t have anything seriously wrong with the bones, ligaments or tendons.

“The pain from the operation is because it was difficult to take out the screw the doctor needed to use some force.  Around the scar it is inflamed and I just needed some more rest. I’m working with Bernard Achou from the Clinica Mobile to move the blood around and reduce the inflammation.

“And now I’m waiting from some news from my doctor to see if he can find a special machine to help me to recover quicker.”