Valentino Rossi gets all-clear for Valencia MotoGP return

Valentino Rossi has been given the all-clear to return to MotoGP action on Saturday at Valencia.

The Italian superstar missed both Aragon rounds after being diagnosed with Covid-19, then was also forced to withdraw from Friday practice at Valencia after continuing to post positive PCR results earlier this week.

But Thursday's PCR test was finally negative, allowing Rossi to end his self-isolation and fly to Valencia in the evening. However, he remained in self-isolation throughout the night and still needed to pass a second test (48 hours after the first) to return to the paddock.

This morning (Friday 6th November), the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider took a second PCR test, as required by FIM regulations, and this afternoon it came back negative.

The two consecutive negative test results allow Rossi to reunite with his team and take part in the remainder of weekend‘s Gran Premio de Europa.

The Italian was replaced by WorldSBK rider Garrett Gerloff during Friday practice, the American doing an impressive job with 16th in the wet FP1 and then 19th in the damp FP2.

'Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP sincerely thank standby replacement rider Garrett Gerloff for his support and availability,' said a Yamaha statement.