Rossi taking time as he rebuilds fitness
Added on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Rossi taking time as he rebuilds fitness
Valentino Rossi claims that he is taking every Grand Prix as it comes as he looks to regain full fitness following his remarkable comeback at Sachsenring at the weekend.
Rossi returned to action just six weeks after breaking his leg in a crash at Mugello and was unlucky not to claim a podium finish on his comeback showing, losing out to Ducati’s Casey Stoner on the final bend despite still struggling to walk without the aid of crutches.
And the defending champion is fully focused on rebuilding his fitness before he begins a belated surge on the championship leaders, starting this weekend at Laguna Seca.
“I was so happy to be back in Sachsenring and to be fighting for the podium, even though I just missed out, was more than we could have hoped for,” he claimed. “I still have some pain in my leg but I am growing stronger every day and I hope this week that I will be in better shape once again and I can try to improve a little bit more.
Rossi has won just once in California, that being in 2008 after an epic battle with Casey Stoner although the Italian does have fond memories of the circuit.
“Laguna is different to anywhere else we go but it’s always great fun to ride there and the last two years I’ve had great races.”
Rossi’s team manager David Brivio added that the mood in the Yamaha garage was high after Rossi’s showing in Germany and that he was setting a top-three target for the 31-year-old this weekend.
“We are arriving in the US after an incredibly exciting weekend in Sachsenring, when we not only enjoyed having Valentino back but also got to see him ride an amazing race so soon after his injury,” he said. “You never know what will happen with him!
“Our target this time is the podium, so we will work with this in mind. We also need to try to improve some areas of our bike because our plan is to have a really good end of the season when he’s back to full fitness.”
