Jorge Lorenzo feared crash could have threatened MotoGP career

World champion Lorenzo had already undergone two operations in as many weeks following crashes at Assen and the Sachsenring that first broke his collarbone, then damaged the titanium plate that had been inserted to fix the original damage.

He reversed an initial decision to skip the United States Grand Prix and rode carefully to sixth place.

"I feel proud and relaxed, finally," Lorenzo said after the race.

"It was a dangerous and difficult situation because obviously with a third crash and a third operation the championship or even my career could be finished. We saved this situation.

"Now at Indy I'm sure I will be almost perfect and I can fight for victory again."

Lorenzo had finished fifth at Assen just two days after his first injury, but said the cumulative effect of recent weeks meant he was in worse condition at Laguna.

"I am not in shape, one month or more without training and two general anaesthetics," he said.

"I felt quite dizzy from the middle of the race to the end so my performance was getting worse.

"The bike was also not working the same as in warm-up."

With Marc Marquez winning the race, Lorenzo is now 26 points behind Honda's rookie at the season's mid-way point.

The championship resumes at Indianapolis after its summer break on August 19.