Valentino Rossi injury update issued by Yahama

VALENTINO ROSSI is expected back on the track for Grand Prix of Japan, the MotoGP star’s Yahama team have revealed.

Rossi broke his leg while riding his bike on a rough terrain toward the finish of August.

It discounted him of the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano a weekend ago and will see him miss the fourteenth round of the season at Aragon in the not so distant future as well.
Dutch superbike rider Michael van der Mark will step up and replace Rossi for the race.

Yahama say Rossi is expected back when MotoGP heads to the Far East in October.

After the September 24 Aragon Grand Prix, MotoGP breaks for three weeks - giving Rossi time to get back on the bike.

The team wrote in a statement: "Rossi is making good progress with his rehabilitation process.

“However, it is expected that he will not be able to compete again before the Grand Prix of Japan at the Twin Ring Motegi, held from October 13-15.

Yamaha managing director Lin Jarvis said the team was obliged to enter two bikes for the Aragon race and had decided to seek a replacement within the company's own pool of contracted riders.

"It is never easy to step in to replace another rider and even more difficult to replace Valentino Rossi, but we believe that Michael has all the credentials and experience to do a good job," he said.

Honda's Spanish rider Marc Marquez, the reigning champion, and Italy's Andrea Dovizioso, for Ducati, are tied at the top of the championship after Sunday's race at Misano with five rounds remaining.