Rossi Vows To Return In Time For Indy GP

INDIANAPOLIS, June 28, 2010: Red Bull Indianapolis GP fans, exhale: The Doctor plans to make a house call on his Fiat Yamaha in late August at Indianapolis.

MotoGP legend Valentino “The Doctor” Rossi said June 26 he hopes to return to action in time for the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic on Aug. 15, the race before the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 27-29 at IMS. 2008 Red Bull Indianapolis GP winner Rossi suffered a compound fracture of his lower right leg in a vicious, high-side crash June 5 during the Italian Grand Prix.

“Three weeks have passed since the accident and two since I was discharged from hospital, and I am very happy about how my recuperation is progressing,” seven-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi said. “I am feeling a lot better and I’m starting to live a semi-normal life again, although for a completely ‘normal' life I will have to wait until I'm back on my bike!

“I am walking with crutches, and since a few days I've been able to put my foot to the floor. Honestly, I didn't expect to feel this good just a few weeks after the incident, and I mean both physically and in my ‘spirit.'

“The rehabilitation is continuing as usual, both sitting in the hyperbaric chamber and with some exercises in the gym. Unfortunately my shoulder is still giving me some pain, but I am working on the muscles to reduce the pain a bit. If the rehabilitation proceeds without trouble and if everything continues in this way, then my objective is to return at the Czech Grand Prix in Brno.”

Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha teammate, 2009 Red Bull Indianapolis GP winner Jorge Lorenzo, has won two of the three races during Rossi’s absence and leads the World Championship.

American rookie Ben Spies also has surged during Rossi’s convalescence, earning his first career MotoGP podium finish at the Grand Prix of Great Britain on June 20 and finishing fourth in TT Assen on June 26 on his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine.

There are three American riders in the top 10 of the MotoGP point standings: 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden is tied with Rossi for fourth, Spies is eighth and Colin Edwards 10th.