Valentino Rossi completes free practice in Aragón
Valentino Rossi completed two practice sessions today for the Aragón Grand Prix - just 21 days after surgery on a double leg fracture.
Rossi on the mend
The nine-time world champion, given the all-clear to take part after passing a mandatory medical examination at the MotorLand Aragón circuit in Teruel, took it easy in the opening session staged in wet conditions.
He completed seven laps to test his fitness, returning for the second session in which he managed another 13 laps as he bids to line up in Sunday's race. Honda rival Dani Pedrosa topped the combined timesheets, the 2012 winner in Aragón posting a fastest lap of 1min 59.858sec, the only rider to duck under the two-minute mark.
Rossi comes home in 20th place in Teruel
Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo was second on the day at 0.214sec with Yamaha Tech's Johann Zarco and Honda's Marc Márquez next best. Rossi, who had completed 20 training laps in Misano on Tuesday, came in 20th, more than two seconds back.
The Italian underwent surgery on 1st September, a day after crashing in training, and discharged himself from hospital the following day. He is returning to action after missing the San Marino Grand Prix because of the leg break, but remains fourth in the world championship standings, 42 points behind world champion Marc Márquez and Italy's Andrea Dovizioso with five rounds to go.
Already a great feeling come back with my guys.Hope to be fit enough for ride the M1 and work… https://t.co/WbqT0XyfBg — Valentino Rossi (@ValeYellow46) 21 September 2017