Stoner to race despite injury

Indianapolis - World champion Casey Stoner will take part in the Indianapolis MotoGP later on Sunday despite a fracture and damaging ligaments in his right ankle in a spectacular crash during Saturday qualifying.

The Australian suffered the injury when he was thrown over the handlebars of his Honda at Turn 13 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track and was stretchered off to the circuit medical centre.

Honda said that Stoner, who won the race last year, had declared himself fit to ride having qualified in sixth place.

Honda spokesperson Livio Suppo told www.motogp.com that Stoner had taken some painkilling tablets and was wearing a specially constructed boot for his heavily swollen ankle.