Valentino Rossi set to test James Toseland's R1 in Brno?

Speculation is increasing at the Czech Republic World Superbike round that reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will test James Toseland’s factory R1 machine on Monday.

Rossi is desperate to return from injury at next weekend’s German MotoGP clash at the Sachsenring and will use the test at the Brno circuit to further gauge his fitness.
The Fiat Yamaha rider tested an R1 WSB bike last week at the Misano circuit near his Tavullia home as he bids to make a shock comeback from the broken right leg he suffered in a vicious high-side during practice for his home race in Mugello last month.

Rossi had initially set a return date for the Brmo MotoGP on August 15. But such has been the rapid progress of his recovery that he’s now seriously contemplating a return in Germany, just 41 days after breaking his leg.

Speculation is increasing in Brno that Rossi will fly to the Czech Republic to ride former Monster Yamaha Tech 3 MotoGP star Toseland’s R1.

It is after that test that Rossi will decide whether he will be strong enough for a return at the Sachsenring or whether he will have to undergo more intensive treatment to aid his rehabilitation.

Rossi was happy with his progress at Misano but complained of pain in his right tibia and the right shoulder he first damaged in April in a motocross training accident.

Speaking after the recent Misano test, the 31-year-old said:

“The Fiat Yamaha rider said: “We made this test in order to understand how we must work from here and to see more or less how I can ride the bike. The test was positive, because I can at least ride, but there is a lot more to a MotoGP race than to a test like this one.

“I had some pain in the ankle, the knee and the shoulder, but above all I lacked strength in the shoulder and a bit of movement in the ankle. I would really like to come back at Sachsenring, but it is still too early to say. We still have twelve days and we must wait and see how much we can improve my condition in the next few days. The Superbike today was good and great fun to ride! I really would like to ride at Sachsenring, but we must wait another week before making a decision