First pictures: Valentino Rossi starts Brno test

Valentino Rossi has started testing a factory Yamaha R1 World Superbike champion to check whether he’s fit enough to return to MotoGP action in Germany this weekend.

The 31-year-old will decide whether he can return ahead of schedule from the broken right leg he suffered in Mugello at the end of this afternoon’s session at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic.

It is the second test in a week for Rossi as he desperately tries to return to MotoGP action having missed the Mugello, Silverstone, Assen and Catalunya races with the broken tibia bone.

If Rossi declares himself fit enough to compete in this weekend’s Sachsenring race in Germany, he will start Friday’s practice just 41 days after suffering a compound break of his right leg.

He rode a World Superbike spec R1 in Misano last week just 32 days after his horrific high-side in Mugello and a return in Germany would be way ahead of schedule.

Rossi’s original intention was to return to action in Brno on August 15, but such has been his rapid recovery that he is keen to return in Germany for round eight of the 2010 MotoGP world championship.

Pics by Ken Wootton