MotoGP: Rossi relieved after tough home race

Valentino Rossi has come away form his home race at the Italian Grand Prix pleased to have made important damage limitation to his 2017 title hopes only a week after leaving himself seriously enough injured in a motocross crash to warrant a night in hospital.

Coming away from Mugello with 13 valuable points – and ahead of reigning champion Marc Marquez – gave the Movistar Yamaha a lucky escape from what could have been disaster; something he acknowledged after the race.

“I knew that today’s race would be more difficult than usual for me. While on the bike I rode well and I didn’t have pain, but I was struggling a bit and I knew that 23 laps would be long and hard. I tried my best, I did a perfect start and I led the race for some laps, but I couldn’t really ride the way I would have liked to.

“At the end I tried to stay close to the riders in front, but I did not have the power to attack Danilo. I would have liked a lot to be on the podium today, but there was nothing I could do. It’s a bit disappointing that I’m not on the podium at Mugello, but seeing where I was few days ago, and the big hit I took, it’s been a positive weekend all in all.”

And, with another week to recover before the next round of the series in only a few days’ time at Barcelona’s Montmelò circuit, he’s confident that he can make further progress at the Catalan track.

“Being here and riding in front of so many fans was a gift. Now we have just few days before Catalunya, another important race, so I will try to recover and be in perfect shape in Barcelona.”