Green light for Jorge Lorenzo to return to MotoGP at Silverstone

The triple MotoGP world champion suffered a fracture to his T6 and T8 vertebrae in a fast crash during first practice for the Dutch TT two months ago, and was forced to miss the Assen and Sachsenring races.

He was expected to return after the subsequent summer break, but his recovery had not come on enough and he sat out the back-to-back Czech and Austrian GPs.

"It is very good to be back with the Repsol Honda team, it has been a long time since Assen," the three-time Silverstone race winner said.

"I would have liked to have been back sooner, but the nature of the injury meant I had to take my time.

"While away from the track, I have been working hard to be as ready as possible for Silverstone but I know it will take some time to get back up to speed.

"I am pleased and ready to be back with the team so we can keep improving and get the results we know we can achieve."

During his absence, Lorenzo was embroiled in rumours about a shock return to Ducati in 2020 in place of Jack Miller at the Pramac squad - a move seemingly instigated by Ducati management ahead of the Austrian GP.

But later in the same weekend Lorenzo communicated to Honda that he would see out his two-year deal with it.

Pramac and Ducati have since firmed up Miller's deal for next season, when he will continue to ride works machinery.

• A wild weekend of Lorenzo rumours
• Miller believes there's "some truth" in Lorenzo talk
  
• Would Lorenzo really walk out on Honda?
  
• Lorenzo offers himself to Petronas Yamaha
  
• Lorenzo tells Honda he'll stay after all
  
• The scars left by Lorenzo's Ducati flirtation
  

Injury aside, Lorenzo's debut season on the RC213V has been a miserable affair and he is only 19th in the standings.

HRC test rider Stefan Bradl (pictured below) deputised for Lorenzo at the last three rounds, and is only three points adrift of him in the standings.