Rossi to Return for Sachsenring Round

Rossi will be at Sachsenring for the German Grand Prix with the rest of the Fiat Yamaha MotoGP team, but his return to action is still pending approval from the events chief medical officer.

If he is cleared to race, Rossi will be back sooner than previously expected after breaking his right leg in June 5 crash before the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. After undergoing an intensive rehabilitation program, Rossi began preparing for his return with a couple of private tests on a Yamaha R1 superbike.

I'm really excited that my doctors think I can ride this weekend, says Rossi. Tomorrow I will see the medical officer and then we will have the final decision. I felt good on the R1 but I know my M1 at the track is a different thing and it will be hard for me, but I miss my bike and my team and I want to try. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone and being back in the paddock; I was tired of being at home!"

The nine-time World Champion first tested his health in a July 7 test at Italys Misano circuit, where he posted some respectable lap times. Rossi completed a second test July 12-13 in the Czech Republic following the recent Brno round of the World Superbike Championship. His best lap time of 1:59.135 would have matched BMW rider Ruben Xaus for fourth in the superpole qualifier. Riding on a similar motorcycle, Rossis time was faster than Yamaha Sterilgardas James Toselands superpole qualifying time from the Brno WSBK round.

Valentino has made big effort to be ready to race in Sachsenring this weekend, says Davide Brivio, Rossis team manager. He really wanted to be back riding his M1 as soon as he could and so hes worked hard to make his recovery as quick as possible. We expect him to take a couple of races to be up to speed and competitive at the top after his injury, but its very nice to see him back with us.

Rossi missed four races following his injury, the only four races he has ever missed in his 15-season Grand Prix racing career. Yamaha test rider Wataru Yoshikawa rode in Rossis place at the July 4 Catalunya round and will be at Sachsenring ready to ride should Rossi not be cleared to race.

Though only one month has passed since Mugello, Valentino is back and I am amazed at the marvelous recovery he has made, says Yoshikawa. I respect his decision to try to ride, and it seems from the R1 test he did that he is still very fast! I am ready to ride if I need to, but it will be good if Valentino is back in his rightful place. I have learnt a lot riding the M1 in a racing environment and I think it will be useful in my future development work.

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