Amazing Rossi To Make Speedy Return To MotoGP July 18 In Germany
July 14, 2010 | By Paul Kelly
Valentino Rossi is back home this weekend – skimming inches above the asphalt at nearly 200 mph on his Fiat Yamaha Team MotoGP motorcycle.
Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi announced July 14 that he intends to cap an amazing comeback from a compound fracture of his lower right leg June 5 in the Italian Grand Prix by competing July 18 in the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring. That intention became reality when Rossi was cleared to ride after passed a medical scan July 15 at the track.
“I’m really excited that my doctors think I can ride this weekend,” Rossi said.
SPEED will televise the German Grand Prix at 8 a.m. (ET) Sunday, July 18 in the United States.
The race return of “The Doctor” will come just 43 days after he suffered the serious fracture in a vicious, high-side crash. It also means that Rossi will ignite MotoGP fans by racing in the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 27-29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He won the inaugural MotoGP event at Indy in 2008.
Rossi has tested twice on a Yamaha World Superbike machine during his incredible recovery. He lapped quicker than both this year’s Superbike World Championship pole time and race fastest lap during testing July 12 at Brno, Czech Republic.
“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,” Rossi said. “I am really looking forward to seeing everyone and being back in the paddock; I was tired of being at home!”
Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha teammate, 2009 Red Bull Indianapolis GP winner Jorge Lorenzo, has won three of the four races during Rossi’s absence and leads the World Championship by 52 points over Dani Pedrosa. Rossi has slipped from second to seventh in the standings.
There are three American riders in the top 10 of the MotoGP point standings: 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden is tied for fourth, rookie Ben Spies is eighth, and Colin Edwards is tied for 10th.
***
IMS tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP are on sale now. A new structure offers additional value and flexibility to fans attending the annual MotoGP event.
Among the highlights of the new ticket structure are lower prices and single-day reserved and general admission tickets for Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29.
Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
General admission tickets provide access to the grounds and to the viewing mounds along the infield section of the circuit, which provide excellent angles to see the greatest riders in the world.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.