Valentino Rossi remains hopeful of Brno return

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi remains confident he will be back in MotoGP at the Czech Republic round at Brno in mid-August.

The Italian is making good progress from the broken right leg he suffered during practice for the Italian MotoGP at Mugello earlier this month and believes he could be fit for the Brno clash on August 15.

Rossi, who looks a certainty to move to Ducati in 2011 after intense speculation surfaced in Assen last weekend that he’ll quit Yamaha, said: “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.

“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.

“I have started to leave the house and my good friends haven’t left me on my own for even a minute, although I’m not used to spending so much time in Tavullia!

“I miss my bike, my team and the paddock a lot and this ‘new’ sensation is pushing me to get better as quickly as possible.