Dani Pedrosa will brave the pain from recent surgery and try to compete in this weekend's Austin MotoGP.

The Spaniard suffered a right wrist fracture (radius bone) in his opening lap highside in Argentina on April 8, having been caught out by the damp track moments after a close pass from Johann Zarco forced him offline. 

Pedrosa underwent surgery on his return to Barcelona, where a titanium screw was used to fix the fracture.

"Since the operation, I started feeling a bit better every day," Pedrosa said. "I've been doing exercises to gain mobility and reduce the inflammation. Little by little I'm recovering muscle tone, and this allows me to see some progress.

"From here it's difficult to know our real possibilities. We're going to a difficult track and until I'm back on my bike I won't be able to really know my situation.

"But what's clear to me at this moment is that it's well worth it to travel and try. An important part of my strength to go to Austin comes from your messages of support, so thank you very much to all of you."

Tyre problems in the opening Qatar round, then the accident in Argentina mean Pedrosa has scored just 9 out of a possible 50 points heading into round three.

The Repsol Honda rider has finished on the podium three times from four previous COTA appearances (he missed the 2015 event due to arm pump surgery). Team-mate Marc Marquez has taken victory in all five COTA races.

It is not clear if HRC test rider Stefan Bradl will be on standby, should Pedrosa be unable to complete the weekend.