While Repsol Honda team-mate Marc Marqu🌠ez grabbed the headlines with a sixth successive COTA MotoGP victory, Dani Pedrosa defied his fract꧒ured right wrist to bring home a brave seventh-place.

Pedrosa had sustained t🦂he injury exactly two weeks earlier in Argen𒉰tina, undergoing surgery on his return to Barcelona.

Many doubted he would ಌmake the trip to Ausꦍtin, and Pedrosa was unsure of being able to complete practice at one of the most physically demanding circuits on the calendar.

Yet he qualified in ninth, gained a place on the opening lap and then a further position when Cal Crutchl🌳ow fell on lap 8 of 20.

Pedrosa remained in a close battle for fifth with Johann Zarco and Andrea Doviziosoᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ for much of the race, before settling f☂or the safe seventh.

“I’m more than satisfied w🍨ith having been able to finish this race and get some good points, and I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me in these days, ༒as well as all the fans for the support they gave me," Pedrosa said.

"Honestly, before coming here I wasn’t even sure I would be𒊎 able to do the practices. It was a tough weekend, especially at this track; in some other circuits you might handle the situation a little better with a bit less effort, but this one is super-physical.

"I wasn't able to enjoy the race like I usually do, even though I took so✃me painkillers that eased the pain a little. That allowed me to focus a bit more, though I don’t ha♓ve much strength.

"I had a decent start and tried to stick with the guys in front as much as po꧂ssible.

"In the end I struggled to co൩ntrol my bike, but I managed and I’m happy with the outcome.

"Now we have some more days to try and recover as much ꧂as possible before Jerez. It’s a track𝓰 I like, so we’ll see how much better I’ll feel."

Pedrosa is eleventhᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ in the championship and still to confirm his 2019 plans.