Lorenzo: "I am going to Qatar test"

INJURED FIAT Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo says he will be present at next week's final MotoGP winter test in Qatar, despite breaking his wrist in an accident just a month ago.

"Yes, I'm going to the Qatar test," Lorenzo told Motosprint. "I've taken this decision for several reasons, including the need to understand how my hand is doing, but certainly not to set the quickest lap time.

"I have thought about forgoing testing and going straight to the first race. But I feel like going to the tests. I'd like to recover some feeling, some confidence, basically I want to get back in touch with my bike. Even if it's just a couple of laps, I want to see how I feel on the saddle."

The Spaniard is resigned to the fact that this isn't the best start to the 2010 championship:

"I think I won't be well prepared when we get to the first race," said Lorenzo. "I won't be, and neither will be my bike.

"In any case I don't want to get disheartened. I carry on thinking positive, since the season is long: 18 grands prix are a lot of races, we need to think long term. As for the first race, I will try to limit the damage as much as possible - that would already be a positive thing for me."

The 2010 MotoGP championship kicks of at Losail circuit, Qatar, April 11th.