Unable to complete a race for the sole time since 2007 was not an ideal scenario for Valentino Rossi following his upcoming home event at this weekend’s Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, however with a 25 point advantage and the home spectators behind him completely, it could have been worse.

Competing immediately after his Brickyard DNF will allow the Italian champion an opportunity to rid the demons and put the challenges back on his Fiat Yamaha colleague Jorge Lorenzo, who holds Rossi’s MotoGP crown at present, particularly so that Rossi was a winner at Misano last season.

Previewing the action this weekend and with the circuit being a short travel from his home town of Tavullia, Rossi says, “I’m glad we don’t have long until the next race because I quickly want to forget the mistake of Indianapolis! Last year at Misano was incredible, to win in front of all my fans and so close to home was a great emotion and after missing out in Mugello this year we are really focused on trying to get the best result there.”

He adds, “As usual my Fan Club will make a big party there so I hope that we can give them a good show, it’s always great to ride at home. As we saw last weekend, anything can happen and the championship isn’t over, we have to keep working at the maximum and just try to take as many points as we can each time.”