Assen comeback still in doubt for Dani Pedrosa

Dani Pedrosa’s return to MotoGP action at next weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix at Assen is still in doubt, despite the Spaniard undergoing a second operation on his damaged right collarbone yesterday.

Pedrosa has been sidelined with a broken right collarbone since mid-May when he was involved in a collision with San Carlo Gresini Honda rider Marco Simoncelli at Le Mans.

He missed his home race in Catalunya and last weekend’s rain-lashed British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and he needed further surgery in Barcelona last night after a small fragment of bone had become dislodged during the recovery process.

It has been rumoured that the triple world champion damaged the collarbone again in a supermoto accident, though HRC has strenuously denied the claims.

The operation was conducted at the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus by Dr. Xavier Mir, Chief of the Pathology Unit of the Hand of Dexeus USP, and Dr. Cesar Garcia Madrid, vascular specialist of the Institute Planell at Teknon Medical Centre.

Dr Mir said: “We believe the surgery was successful as we were able to fix the fragment of bone of his collarbone in a very stable way and because of this we are confident that in 48 hours it will be possible to begin rehabilitation of his right shoulder.”

Pedrosa will decide whether he will ride in Assen, the seventh round of the 2011 MotoGP world championship, early next week.