Valentino Rossi Tests Positive For Covid-19
V
alentino Rossi has tested
positive for Covid-19. Rossi
confirmed via his Instagram page
early on Thursday evening (Octo-
ber 15) that he had two medical
tests on the eve of the 11th round
of the MotoGP season after "not
feeling good" upon waking up.
"My bones were sore and I had a
slight fever," he wrote.
He took two tests on Thursday.
The first came back negative
(as did his routine test, taken on
Tuesday of the previous week).
"But the second one was unfor-
tunately positive," he wrote.
"I am so disappointed that I will
have to miss the race at Aragon,"
he wrote. "I'd like to be optimistic
and confident, but I expect the
second round in Aragon to be a
'no go' for me as well. I am sad
and angry because I did my best
to respect the protocol and al-
though the test I had on Tuesday
was negative, I self-isolated since
my arrival from Le Mans."
An official statement released
by the Monster Energy Yamaha
team explained that Rossi re-
turned to his home in Tavullia,
Italy, on Sunday following his
early crash out of the French
Grand Prix. He was tested on
Tuesday, as is routine, and was
training as normal on Wednesday
and feeling "fully fit."
The 41-year old is the second
rider in the three grand prix
classes to test positive for the
virus, after Jorge Martin missed
the Misano doubleheader due to
two positive tests.
This is also the second Co-
vid-19 scare for Yamaha, who
faced last weekend's French
Grand Prix at Le Mans without
MotoGP project leader Takahiro
Sumi and five other engineers
after one positive test in their
group. All six were placed in
isolation in Andorra.
"We have checked with the
Italian health authorities and
we have been advised that any
member of our team that was in
contact with Valentino up until
Monday is excluded from direct
risk," said Yamaha Motor Rac-
ing Managing Director Lin Jarvis.
"Nevertheless, we will be even
more attentive from now on to
minimize the chance for any
future issues."
Neil Morrison
IN
THE
WIND
P28
Valentino Rossi
sat out the Aragon
MotoGP after testing
positive for Covid-19.
PHOTO: GOLD & GOOSE
