Jezza aims to ride despite crash

Jeremy McWilliams will undergo precautionary X-rays on his left leg in a Doha hospital later on today, but is confident he will be fit for the first MotoGP world championship race of 2007 tomorrow (Saturday, March 10, 2007).

The veteran British rider suffered a massive highside on his last Michelin qualifying tyre at the end of this afternoon’s qualifying session at the Losail International Circuit.

He went tumbling through the gravel trap and there were fears he might have aggravated the left femur he broke when he suffered a massive 120mph crash in testing last November in Jerez.

When he finally came to rest in the gravel, he immediately began stretching his left leg, and he was relieved he could put weight on it when he arrived at the circuit’s medical centre.

The 42-year-old is confident he will be fit for tomorrow’s first 800cc clash, where he will start from 20th on the grid, with Valentino Rossi continuing Yamaha’s superb early form by taking pole position.

McWilliams, whose left leg still hasn’t fully recovered after complications following an operation in November, said: “I’m glad I feel OK because at the moment it just feels like I’ve got a few bumps and bruises.”