Dani Pedrosa still a doubt for MotoGP Valencia season finale

Pedrosa crashed during third practice at Motegi, the first of MotoGP's three flyaway races in October, breaking his right collarbone in four places and fracturing his right fibula.

The Spaniard flew back to Barcelona immediately, and underwent surgery on the Saturday evening.

A return at Valencia was targeted, but Pedrosa said that was not yet set in stone. "I'm getting better with every day that goes by," he wrote in a blog for sponsor Repsol.

"Physical therapy is going well, and at this time all I can think about is racing once again.

"I'm working hard with my mind set on recovering in time for Valencia, but I'm still not entirely sure whether it will be possible as I will know next week."

Honda test rider Hiroshi Aoyama stood in for Pedrosa at Motegi and Sepang, with 2006 MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden returning to the factory team for the second flyaway race at Phillip Island.

Hayden was unavailable for last weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix due to a clash with the final round of the World Superbike Championship in Qatar, but he would be free to race at Valencia.