Motorcycling: Rossi defies the doubters

(GETTY IMAGES)

Valentino Rossi provided the heroics on his return from a broken leg as Dani Pedrosa breathed life back into the MotoGP title race with victory ahead of championship leader Jorge Lorenzo in the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring.

Fourth place yesterday capped an amazing comeback weekend from Rossi, who had qualified fifth on Saturday, six weeks after a compound fracture of his right shin.

Rossi, 31, used a crutch to walk in the paddock and said: "I have never been so happy for a fourth place – but I lacked a bit of feeling."