DUCATI Desmosedici rider Tito Rabat has been discharged from hospital and intends to ride at the very next MotoGP date in Mugello, Italy.
Barcelona-born Esteve Rabat, known as 'Tito', hit the barriers during a test-run for Michelin tyres at the Montmeló circuit with such force that he and his bike were flung 10 metres up into the air.
The bike burst into flames at the moment of impact and was described as a flying ball of fire.
Despite the dramatic nature of the crash, Tito walked away from the wreckage, but was rushed to Barcelona's Quirón Dexeus University Hospital.
No fractures were found, but he had suffered an injury to his left elbow – a three-centimetre rip in the muscle has been found.
He thought he would need an operation, but medics have opted to try putting his elbow in plaster until the Italian Grand Prix and are creating a contraption that allows him to exercise it to speed up muscle regeneration.
Rabat will have to go back to Barcelona on Tuesday for an X-ray and will then be given either an all-clear, a definite 'no' or an 'at your own risk' to his riding in Mugello.
He can think of no better way of celebrating his 29th birthday, which is tomorrow (Friday, May 25).
The rider, who now lives in Valencia, is determined to make it to the Italian Grand Prix since he is having a good and very competitive year and wants to 'try to get as high up as possible'.
He is very unlikely to make it to the top of the world championship standings – his compatriot Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) continues to hog the number one slot – but it is early days for him yet; he was Moto2 world champion in 2014, when Márquez was already on his second title in MotoGP.
