Valentino Rossi Tests Yamaha R1 On Track After Surgery

Nine-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi stunned observers by hitting the racetrack aboard a Yamaha R1M just 18 days after a surgery to his right leg. Rossi had fractured both is fibula and tibia in the right leg while practicing on his enduro bike on August 31. The surgery included a nail insertion into the displaced fracture of his tibia. On Tuesday, Rossi completed 20 laps aboard the R1, and is expected to undergo a medical check-up today, before making a final decision regarding his participation at the Aragon MotoGP event.

Valentino Rossi fractured his right leg while riding an enduro bike during practice on August 31

Rossi missed the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano and Yamaha had announced that Dutch Superbike rider Michael van der Mark would replace him at Aragon on September 24. Twenty-four-year-old Van der Mark, will have Rossi's usual pit crew working with him at the 14th round of the season at Aragon. The Dutch rider will be making his debut in the premier class; he has never ridden a MotoGP bike before.

But the Italian rider may well make a return to the Aragon GP this weekend. According to Yamaha, the 38-year-old, who was advised a 30-40 day recovery period, had ridden around the Misano circuit near his home in eastern Italy on a Yamaha YZF-R1M to "put his fitness level to the test". Ross is in fourth place overall and 42 points behind Honda's Marc Marquez and Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso, who are in a tie at the top of the championship. In 2010, Rossi broke his right leg in practice for the Italian Grand Prix, but returned to MotoGP after an absence of six weeks.