Stefan Bradl cleared to make MotoGP return with Aprilia at Indy

The German sat out his home race at the Sachsenring last month having fractured his scaphoid in a crash at Assen, but his return was approved by doctors on Monday.

"The situation is good," said Bradl. "I am very pleased.

"My hand is no longer giving me problems and lately I have been able to do the same training programme that I did before my injury.

"During the summer break the healing process went well and on Monday the doctors gave me the all-clear to race at Indy.

"Recently I have also been motocross training to check my sensations on a bike.

"I still don't know how I'll feel on a MotoGP bike, but I think that by the time I arrive at Indianapolis I'll already be close to 100 per cent fitness."

While Bradl was sidelined, his Forward Racing team's chief Giovanni Cuzari was arrested on corruption charges.

The squad will not race at Indy and it released Bradl from his contract, allowing him to join the Gresini-run works Aprilia team as Marco Melandri's full-time replacement.

"I can't wait to get to Indianapolis and start this new, great adventure," said Bradl, who joins Alvaro Bautista at the team.

"It obviously won't be easy at the beginning, I'll need to get used to a new team and a new bike.

"So my main goal in this first grand prix is to begin getting to know my mechanics and familiarising myself with the way the bike performs."

Team manager Romano Albesiano added: "Stefan is a young rider with a lot of important experience and he's fast, having won the Moto2 title and taken home some good places in MotoGP in recent years.

"We are expecting an important contribution from him in developing the RS-GP."