Dani Pedrosa will start this weekend’s third round of the MotoGP world championship in the United States despite undergoing surgery for a broken arm a week ago.

Pedrosa was injured when he highsided off his Repsol Honda during the Argentina MotoGP as Johann Zarco passed on his inside.

The Spaniard subsequently underwent surgery in Barcelona, where he had a titanium screw inserted in his arm.

Despite doubts Pedrosa would be fit to race this weekend, he will make the trip to the Circuit of the Americas in an attempt to do so.

“Since the operation, I started feeling a bit better every day,” said the 32-year-old.

“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.”

Practice starts early Saturday morning AEST.