• Riders concerned about damaged nuclear plant
• IMF to make decision over race next week

MotoGP's governing body will make a final decision on Japan's postponed race next week amid concern from riders over the risk of radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant.

The International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) said in a statement that an announcement would be made at the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello, but indicated Japan would go ahead as planned in October.

"In principle, Suzuka and Motegi circuits being situated outside the exclusion and evacuation zones, the 2011 FIM World Championships events in Japan will be taking place as scheduled," it said.

The Honda-owned Twin Ring Motegi circuit had been due to host the MotoGP race on 24 April but it was postponed until 2 October after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March resulted in severe damage to the Fukushima plant.

Valentino Rossi said last month: "[Jorge] Lorenzo said he didn't want to go. In fact I wouldn't go there either. I confess that like many other riders, maybe all of them, I am ignorant of nuclear issues. But you need also to ask the people in the paddock – they are all scared about radiation."

The Australian Casey Stoner, Honda's current championship leader, said this month that it might be better not to go.

"With the whole nuclear situation it's difficult to know what to understand and who to believe and things like that," he told autosport.com. "My view is that I think the motorcycle race is the most unimportant thing for Japan right now, and maybe all this time and effort can be spent to do something better than a motorcycle race.

"I don't think we should go. I think 99 per cent of the riders and maybe more of the paddock don't want to go for these reasons."