Valentino Rossi admits the MotoGP championship battle was not a factor in his decision to return for the Aragon Grand Prix 21 days after breaking his right leg.
The Dutch TT winner suffered a displaced fracture of the tibia and fibula of his right leg in an incident while out training on his enduro bike in Italy at the end of August.
Missing his home race at Misano as a result, a predicted recovery time of 30–40 days meant it was likely the Italian would miss this weekend’s Aragon round also.
After slipping 42 points adrift of the championship lead due to his Misano absence, Rossi – who spent a day testing a Yamaha road bike at Misano this week to prepare for a comeback– insists his early return is about returning to peak fitness as soon as possible, rather than a last–ditch tenth title tilt.
“No, it’s not for the championship,” Rossi retorted when asked about his comeback.
“I think everything is open, but especially I think everything is open for the the first three.
“It’s not for that (the title), it’s because I want to come back in a good shape as soon as possible. I think this is the best way.”
Rossi broke his right leg in a crash in 2010 and returned 40 days after the incident. The Italian revealed the injury this time was much better, and he realised just over a week after having surgery that a return this weekend was possible.
“The first days I understand I feel a lot less pain compared to last time, so I think I can make (a recovery) in a short time,” he said.
“The first week was difficult, but after the first 10 days it (the leg) start to improve a lot. Also, every day I started to have a good feeling form the leg, from the ankle, and started to think also to Aragon.
“I knew it was difficult, it was three weeks (after breaking the leg). We speak with my crew and I think it’s very important to ride my bike.
“For sure, in Aragon, it will be very difficult to even finish the race, but it was important not to lose another one because you have three weeks before Motegi.
“It’s also very important for the last part of the season and for understand what we have to do more precisely on the leg to come back at the top.”
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