---
title: "Rossi ‘proud’ of Aragon weekend"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/09/24/rossi-proud-aragon-weekend/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2017-09-24T16:55:46Z"
modified: "2017-09-24T16:56:11Z"
---

# Rossi ‘proud’ of Aragon weekend

Valentino Rossi says he is proud of what he has achieved during his comeback at the Aragon MotoGP weekend after finishing the race in fifth.

The 38–year–old Italian made his return to racing this weekend just 23 days after breaking his right leg in a training incident in Italy, despite being told a recovery period of 30–40 days would be required.

![Dan Istitene/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/09/852845898.jpg)

Rossi stunned on Saturday when he qualified his Yamaha third on the grid, and just 0.180 second from pole man and team–mate Maverick Vinales.

The Italian was unsure of what he could manage in Sunday’s race, and admitted he would ‘have to suffer’. Running in the battle for the lead for much of the race, fatigue and a drop in grip in his hard rear tyre saw him slip to fifth at the chequered flag.

“I’m quite proud, because a week ago I didn’t know if I would be able to race,” Rossi, who finished just 0.6s from Vinales, said.

“Achieving a start from the first row yesterday was already great, I was very happy.

“I knew I had to suffer in the second half of the race. I had some pain and we also suffered from the degradation of the tyre.

“The work continues after this race. The calendar works well for me, I have two full weeks to train and improve my leg’s condition.”

![Dan Istitene/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/09/852980280.jpg)

**Pedrosa unhappy with Rossi move**

Honda’s Dani Pedrosa expressed his frustration with Rossi after the Italian crowded him towards the edge of the circuit on the back straight in the closing stages.

Pedrosa spent much of the first half of the 23–lap race stuck behind Rossi‘s team–mate Vinales, though once clear was able to reel in and pass Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso and Rossi in quick succession.

The Spaniard lined up a move on Rossi down the back straight into Turn 16 after getting a good exit from the chicane, though felt the Yamha rider’s aggressive defence tactic was needlessly risky.

“I didn’t see the image (on TV), so I can only say from my feeling on the bike, and when I was on the bike I feel that it was very close,” second–placed Pedrosa said.

“I cannot judge what he sees, but obviously you know, you feel you are getting overtaken.

“For sure, at the beginning, he didn’t see me, but once you get next to it you just try to give room.

“I was on the (white) line and the handlebars were like this (close together), and we were at 300km/h.

“I don’t think you need to force the issue that much, because the risk at this speed, the margin for error is small.”