Just over a month after his June 5 crash, and following two surgeries, Valentino Rossi completed his second test today aboard a Yamaha R1 WSB race bike. This time the test occured at Brno, the location of the just-completed WSB round last weekend. Rossi completed 48 laps with a best time of 1 minute, 59.135 seconds. This lap time is remarkable given his relative unfamiliarity with the bike, and the proximity of his injury and surgeries. This is quicker, for instance, than Yamaha Factory WSB racer James Toseland was able to go during the races at Brno.
Rossi, nevertheless, will wait until at least Wednesday of this week before making a decision about racing next weekend at the Sachsenring. According to Yamaha, Rossi will need approval from the FIM Chief Medical Officer before he can begin racing.
Rossi is the epitome of a true champion and professional road racer. I salute you sir…
Rossi’s always been my hero, and this just further defines why. Ya gotta have the hunger to be a winner, and he’s still a starving artist. Damn, I broke a rib and couldn’t do squat for 8 weeks. Whoa! Watch out, Jorge, the reports of Rossi’s demise are greatly exaggerated!
The boy ain’t right………but with 7 world titles, you’d expect to see some differences between the rest of the population.
He’s got nothing to prove – yet he still pushes as if he were just trying to win his first race.
Pure racer.
Oh, one other datapoint, I think this would have put him in the top 10 qualifying in the superbike race!
Actually he’s only 2.5 seconds off his previous Bruno test pace Nicholas. Not bad all things considered. Can’t believe he’d bother to come back so soon, one get off is going to really set him back. Save it for Ducat Vale, or at least one or two more races down the schedule.
Awesome… just stunning. He is a god!!! Forza Vale!!!
No kidding. Simply remarkable! What I’d like to know is what the doctors did to allow him to recover so quickly. Those injuries at his age or older would take much longer than one month “normal” healing. I want that magic juice 😉
He has been spending several hours per day inside a hyperbaric chamber to hasten the bone healing process , add to this the fact that he is no ordinary mortal , i have tickets for Brno and would love to see him there . I wonder what Jorge will feel like knowing that the king is back on track ? .
For reference, in the 2009 Brno test, Rossi’s best lap was 1’56.622
So 3.5 seconds off the test pace on an unfamiliar, lower-spec bike and a broken leg…
I hope he doesn’t rush back too soon and risk further injury. I’m a little selfish. I want him healthy for Indy. Unless Lorenzo goes out with a serious injury this season’s champion is all but decided. There is no point rushing back too soon. But I know Rossi is as competitive as they come, and I’m sure he’s anxious to prove that he’s still the best.
Rossi is incredible, here he is on a modified R-1 (not his GP bike), 1 month after a crash that would play in our heads for months to years,and posting impressive times on a very tough course. WOW!I love Valentino Rossi…He is the epitomy of a motor cycle racer and he is what inspires motorcyclist everywhere..