OXFORDSHIRE’S Bradley Smith will ride in the Japan MotoGP race in Motegi on October 16.

Smith has been forced to sit out the last three races after suffering knee ligament damage when crashing in testing.

But after undergoing surgery, the Beckley rider has embarked on an intense rehabilitation programme which will see him back on the grid next month.

“The recovery process was due to be six months, but after the efforts by myself, the doctors and everyone else, I managed to do it eight to nine weeks,” he said.

“It has been challenging for me to watch the last three races from the sofa.”