After missing four races due to a broken right leg, Valentino Rossi will officially make his return to racing this weekend in Germany,
Doctor’s have officially cleared
Valentino Rossi to race this weekend at Sachsenring for the German Grand Prix. The Italian, who was injured six weeks ago in a crash during practice for his home Grand Prix in Mugello, breaking his lower leg quite severely, has rebounded much faster than initially thought. According to a release from Yamaha, Rossi was examined today by Dr. Huber Fischer, the Chief Medical Officer for the event, who found him fit enough to compete this weekend.
Rossi rode in
two previous tests on a Yamaha World Superbike-spec YZF-R1, once at Misano and more recently at Brno following the last round of the WSB Series, to determine the state of his condition.
"Immediately after the crash the doctors said it could be five months before I was fit to return; maybe five months to play football, but I just need to ride the bike,” said the 31-year-old reigning world champion in the pre-event press conference today. “The feeling in Misano was quite positive and the feeling in Brno was even better, so we made the decision to return this weekend at Sachsenring. I'm in pretty good shape, but it will be difficult over full race distance I think."
Rossi will have only missed four races due to his injury, whereas initial reports suggested he would be out for 4-6 months. He will also will now be making the trip to America next weekend to race in the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, big news for American VR46 fans.
This was the frist time in Rossi's storied career that he had to miss races due to injury. How quick will he rebound will be the question on everyone's mind now.
"These two races at Sachsenring and Laguna are very important if I am to comeback in good shape for the last five or six races of the season and try again to win,” added the Italian. “My shoulder has improved a lot as well, but there is still some pain. The injury to the leg was worse, sure, but I think it will be less of a problem on the bike than the shoulder."
Rossi was also asked if the move to come back so early had anything to do with a much-anticipated announcement of where the Italian will race next year, most believing it will be with Ducati. But Valentino refused to comment regarding a possible move for the 2011 season, adding: "It's too early to say now, but I think we will be ready to announce our plans for 2011 at Brno."
