Paul Carruthers | July 7, 2010
MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi completed 26 laps of the Misano Circuit in Italy today, the Fiat Yamaha rider on a motorcycle for the first time since breaking his right leg at Mugello on June 5. Rossi rode a Sterligarda Yamaha R1 on loan from Yamaha’s World Superbike team and called the test “positive,” but not enough on which to make a decision as to whether or not he will race at Sachensring in the German Grand Prix on July 18.Rossi lapped at a best of 1:38.200. For comparison’s sake, Troy Corser earned pole position for the World Superbike race at Misano two weeks ago with a lap of 1:35.001.”We made this test in order to understand how we must work from here and to see more or less how I can ride the bike,” said Rossi in a team release. “The test was positive, because I can at least ride, but there is a lot more to a MotoGP race than to a test like this one. I had some pain in the ankle, the knee and the shoulder, but above all I lacked strength in the shoulder and a bit of movement in the ankle. I would really like to come back at Sachsenring, but it is still too early to say. We still have 12 days and we must wait and see how much we can improve my condition in the next few days. The Superbike today was good and great fun to ride! I really would like to ride at Sachsenring, but we must wait another week before making a decision.”Rossi did an initial run of 11 laps at 18.30 CET with a best time of 1:41.000, then a second run of 15 laps at 19.45 CET with a best time of 1’38.200 – unofficially.
Paul Carruthers | Editor
Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America's Daily Motorcycle News Source.
