talian star keen not to let effects of crash slow him down (ANSA) - Assen, June 23 - Italy's Valentino Rossi will have to beat pain as well as his rivals in Saturday's Dutch Grand Prix if he is to maintain his challenge for the 2006 MotoGP championship title .

A high-speed crash in Thursday's practice session, which left him with a hairline fracture in his wrist and a twisted ankle, means he will be far from comfortable on his Yamaha during the race .

"His right hand is very swollen and painful. It's going to be a battle against pain," said Claudio Costa, Rossi's doctor, after the Italian was given the go ahead to compete on Saturday .

Costa said he would give the reigning world champion something to reduce the swelling and also apply a special bandage that will allow him to ride "as well as possible in his condition" .

Rossi's bout on the track on Friday did little to encourage his fans .

After a rough night in his camper home at the Assen circuit, the 27-year-old star forced himself onto the track and completed 14 laps, about half as many as he would normally do .

Evidently in pain as he rode, his best time was over three seconds slower than US rider John Hopkins who grabbed pole position on his Suzuki. As a result Rossi will start in last place on the grid .

Despite the setback, Costa said Rossi was determined to grit his teeth and perform as well as possible. "I'm sure he'll try to take part in the race. He definitely wants to" .

Although it is too soon to say, Rossi's crash and its effects could affect his chances of winning his eighth championship title in 2006 .

The Yamaha ace has staged a come-back recently after a poor start to the season. Thanks to victories in the last two races, he moved from eighth to third in the standings .

But that momentum could be lost by poor results at this crucial moment. Rossi currently trails championship leader Nicky Hayden of the United States by 30 points, with just over half the season to go .

"If you get hurt at this point in the season it's really tough. I'm OK, but at the moment racing is really difficult," he admitted soon after his crash on Thursday. The situation is made worse by the MotoGP calendar, which gives him little time to recover. Riders are scheduled to race again at Donington in England just a week after the Dutch Grand Prix .

Rossi's spill came five days after fellow Italians Loris Capirossi of Ducati and Honda's Marco Melandri were involved in a major crash at the start of the Catalunya Grand Prix. The two riders - both of whom are contenders for the 2006 title - have been judged fit enough to compete at Assen but are likely to be below par as a result of their injuries .

Capirossi only managed the 15th time in practice, while Melandri did a little better and will start seventh on the grid .

Nicky Hayden will start from the front row and is expected to do his utmost to widen the points gap between himself and his three battered Italian challengers .