Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi satisfied with third

Valentino Rossi’s impressive recovery from a broken right leg continued in Brno today when the reigning world champion ended opening MotoGP practice with the third quickest time.

The Italian suffered a compound fracture of his right tibia in early June and despite being only 65 per cent fit he was only beaten by Spanish duo Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa in the Czech Republic today.

The 31-year-old, who will confirm his move to Ducati’s factory squad on Sunday after the 22-lap race, said: “I’m happy because my condition is a lot better than Germany and Laguna Seca, although I have some pain and lose some power because this track has many right corners and I have a problem on my right side.   

“I’m not at the maximum and have some pain in my shoulder on the brakes but I’m okay.  We did some good work today and I was fast and we have a good setting but we try something different tomorrow which will be good if we have good weather.”

Rossi said the only issue with his recovering right leg was a lack of strength when changing direction and when he needed to put force through the footpeg to steer his factory Yamaha YZR-M1.

The nine-times world champion, who won his very first Grand Prix at Brno on an Aprilia 125 in 1996, added: “When I have to change direction and have to push on the footpeg with the right leg I have some pain.”

Rossi produced a heroic effort in California last month when he finished third in the Laguna Seca race just 50 days after his big crash during practice for his home race in Mugello.