Suzuki rider Loris Capirossi risks missing the next two races in the MotoGP championship because of a fracture he suffered to his right hand during last Sunday's Catalunya Grand Prix, his team said on Wednesday.
''Unfortunately, it's a nasty break because it is near the knuckle in the hand he uses for accelerating and breaking. The problem now is the time it will take for him to recover,'' team manager Paul Denning said.
The next race is the British Grand Prix on June 22 which will be followed a week later by the Dutch Grand Prix.
''Loris wants to make it for both races but we don't know if he can recover in time. If he needs an operation then the recovery will take much longer,'' Denning added.
Capirossi himself has admitted that his chances to get back to the track quickly were slim.
''It will not be easy for me to recover for two races in the space of one week. We'll see, for sure I will do my best to recover in time,'' he said.
''This is racing and sometimes things like this happen,'' he added.
Capirossi crashed Sunday after he collided with Honda rider Alex De Angelis at 160kph.
At 35, Capirossi is the oldest rider in MotoGP. He joined Suzuki this year on a one-year contract after five years at Ducati, where he spearheaded its return to Grand Prix racing.
This is his 19th season as a Grand Prix rider and he has won four world championships, three in the 125cc class and one in the 250cc class.
Speaking last year the Bologna-native said ''I know I don't have too many more seasons in me. Maybe one, maybe two, maybe more. I'm not sure. So I'm more determined than ever to do my best''.
