Rossi to try and start despite fractures

After fracturing bones in his right hand and wrist yesterday putting his participation in today’s Gran Premio bwin.com de la Comunitat Valenciana action in doubt, Fiat Yamaha’s five-time World Champion Valentino Rossi was back on track this morning for the customary MotoGP warm-up.

Having never missed a race in his career Rossi was determined not to sit out today’s proceedings and although he lapped slowest this morning and starts from 17th on the grid, whilst Casey Stoner notched the quickest warm-up time with a lap 2.606s faster than the Italian’s, at least The Doctor keeps his ever present record and will be able to fight for the solitary point he needs to confirm second in the World Championship. Below Ducati Marlboro’s World Champion Stoner in the top five on the timesheet were his team-mate Loris Capirossi, Randy de Puniet (Kawasaki), Marco Melandri (Honda Gresini) and Alex Barros (Pramac d’Antin) – with pole man Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) sixth.

Carlos Checa sat out the morning session but the Honda LCR man will take his place on the grid later for his last MotoGP appearance.