Valentino Rossi tests positive for coronavirus and will miss MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix

Nine-time world champion is set to miss the next two races after entering isolation

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has tested positive for coronavirus (AFP via Getty)

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has tested positive for coronavirus, with the MotoGP great set to miss this weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix.

The seven-time MotoGP champion is also expected to miss the Teruel Grand Prix at Aragon next week, with the Italian due to undergo an isolation period of 10 days that will end next Sunday after only being tested on Thursday morning.

The 41-year-old Italian issued a statement to reveal he had woken up ill ahead of this weekend’s event, reporting “sore bones and a slight fever”. and immediately contacted his doctor to undergo Covid-19 testing. Although the first ‘quick-test’ returned negative, a second more conclusive test returned positive.

Rossi has been in isolation since returning from last weekend’s French Grand Prix at Le Mans, and he expressed anger that his post-race test on Tuesday returned negative despite having contracted coronavirus.

“Unfortunately this morning I woke up and I wasn’t feeling so good,” he admitted. “My bones were sore and I had a slight fever so I immediately called the doctor who tested me twice.

“The ‘quick PCR test’ result was negative, just like the test I underwent on Tuesday. But the second one, of which the results were sent to me at 4pm this afternoon, was unfortunately positive.

“I’d like to be optimistic and confident, but I expect the second round in Aragon will be a ‘no-go’ for me as well. I am sad and angry because I did my best to respect the protocol and although the test I had on Tuesday was negative, I self-isolated since my return from Le Mans.

“Anyway, this is the way it is and I can’t do anything to change the situation. I will now follow the medical advice and I just hope I will be feeling well soon.”

Under Italian guidelines, Rossi will have to isolate for 10 days before testing negative to ensure he can return to the MotoGP paddock.

The news comes just a week after six of Rossi’s Yamaha team were forced to miss the French Grand Prix following a positive coronavirus test, with five mechanics forced to self-isolate due to coming into contact with the infected individual.