Loris Capirossi is on his way to join the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team for this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Donington, despite being sidelined with a broken hand and not being able to race.

The experienced Italian broke the fifth metacarpus of his right hand at the Catalunya GP just 10 days ago and has undergone intense physiotherapy since then to repair the injury. Capirossi is now demonstrating his professional attitude and passion for the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team by joining his crew and the rest of the squad for the team’s home Grand Prix, even though he knows he will just be a spectator and not a competitor.

Capirossi will be at trackside for Sunday’s race and will be available to offer any advice and assistance to regular team-mate Chris Vermeulen and replacement rider Ben Spies – who will be deputising for Capirossi and making his MotoGP debut at the English circuit.

Following the Donington race Capirossi will join Vermeulen at the team’s UK headquarters at the Crescent Suzuki Performance Centre in Verwood near Bournemouth, Dorset for the ‘Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Open Evening’ on Monday 23rd June where both riders will be available to meet and greet fans. Capirossi will then travel to Assen in The Netherlands with the aim of being able to race in the Dutch TT on Saturday 28th June.

Loris Capirossi:

“I’m incredibly disappointed that I’m coming to a MotoGP and not racing! But it is a pleasure to come and support the team and continue with all the promotional events surrounding the team’s home Grand Prix. I know what an important event this is to everybody and I will be around to help out as much as I can and supporting both the guys - even though I know it will be so difficult to watch when all I want to do is ride! Being at Donington will make me even more determined to get back on the GSV-R at Assen, and that is certainly what I will be doing my best to achieve!”