Gerloff won’t replace Rossi if he is ruled out of Valencia
Garrett Gerloff will not replace Valentino Rossi in the MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix should he be ruled out by COVID-19, Motorsport.com has learned.
Motorsport.com reported earlier on Thursday the nine-times grand prix world champion had tested positive again for the virus having been laid off with it for the Aragon double-header last month.
Rossi was cleared to return to action during the European GP last weekend, but only from the Saturday onwards having had to wait 24 hours from his PCR test on Thursday to his next one on the Friday.
The Yamaha rider underwent another test on Tuesday which returned a positive result and plunged his Valencia GP participation in doubt.
However, a second PCR test taken on Thursday has cleared Rossi, with his first one returning a false positive – something which can occur in COVID patients after they’ve had the virus.
Rossi will now need to await the results of a third PCR test, which should be known in the next few hours, before his participation in this weekend’s race is confirmed.
American World Superbike rider Gerloff was placed on standby to replace Rossi last weekend, and did so for Friday’s practice sessions.
Becoming the first American to start a MotoGP sessions since the late Nicky Hayden at Phillip Island in 2016, Gerloff ended Friday on the combined times just 1.5 seconds off the pace and impressed the paddock.
Rossi returned home to Italy after the European GP, and it has been ruled out that he infected any members of his team as they have undergone the relevant tests to be cleared to be in the paddock.
Five members of Yamaha, including team manager Massimo Meregalli, are currently in quarantine until after this weekend’s Valencia race after one of Maverick Vinales’ crew tested positive for the virus.
This followed on from six members of Yamaha being forced into self-isolation ahead of the French GP when one of them tested positive for the virus.
Rossi’s European GP lasted just five laps due to a technical issue, meaning he hasn’t seen a chequered flag since the San Marino Grand Prix at the start of September.
Related video
Valentino Rossi tests positive for COVID-19 again
Iannone’s four-year doping ban “ridiculous”, says Espargaro
Alonso: Making success of F1 comeback not to be underestimated
Fernando Alonso says the challenge of making a successful Formula 1 comeback should not be "underestimated".
Tickets for F1 Spanish Grand Prix and Catalan MotoGP 2023 now on sale
Tickets for Barcelona’s two major motorsport events at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona next season are now available for fans to purchase.
Norris: P5 the maximum for McLaren after "tough season" in F1 2022
Lando Norris says McLaren's fifth position in the championship was the maximum the team deserved to achieve after a tough 2022 Formula 1 season.
Verstappen samples Honda NSX-GT SUPER GT car
Max Verstappen got behind the wheel of a Honda SUPER GT car for the first time at Motegi on Saturday ahead of the marque's end-of-year 'Thanks Day' event.
Was the MotoGP 2022 title won by Bagnaia or lost by Quartararo?
Reigning MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo had a 91-point lead over rival Francesco Bagnaia after the German Grand Prix, a seemingly impregnable gap to overcome in the remaining 10 races. But as the Frenchman struggled for pace with his Yamaha, Bagnaia stormed back into contention and swept to Ducati's first riders' title since 2007
Why there's more to Honda's 2023 MotoGP bike than the Valencia test suggests
After a run on Honda's 2023 prototype MotoGP bike, six-time champion Marc Marquez made his pessimism clear with his initial reaction. But the Japanese marque has made leadership changes behind closed doors - and a more representative bike promised for the Malaysia test in February could placate Marquez.
Why new MotoGP champion Bagnaia has a stronger character than it seems
While new MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia might not be the loudest rider on the grid, his calm exterior belies a steely backbone. His part in turning around Ducati's fortunes at the start of the year, when displeased with a new engine concept, shows the strength of his character.
Why Bagnaia's MotoGP triumph is as worthy as Stoner's Ducati breakthrough
OPINION: Despite the superiority exhibited by the Ducati in 2022, the context in which Francesco Bagnaia became MotoGP world champion means that both the rider and the Italian marque merit the same recognition that the brand and Casey Stoner received after their 2007 title
Why the 2022 MotoGP season had a bittersweet ending
OPINION: MotoGP’s fifth last round showdown of the modern era delivered a tense finale despite the predictable outcome, as Francesco Bagnaia ended 15 years of pain for Ducati. But as emotions ran high for the Italian marque, a final victory for a departing Japanese rival tinged the campaign’s conclusion with sadness.
Why the 2023 MotoGP title battle has already begun
Since Ducati announced the arrival of Enea Bastianini to its factory team for 2023, the staging of the four-time race winner has strained the atmosphere within the Italian manufacturer, which has raised its guard in anticipation of what may happen between him and championship favourite Francesco Bagnaia.
Why Yamaha has just six months to safeguard Quartararo's future
Yamaha's decision to dispense pre-season with the 2022 engine it had intended to use due to lack of reliability, the promises of improvement to Fabio Quartararo and the advance with which the rider market moves leaves the Japanese brand with less than six months to prevent the Frenchman from starting to look for a way out
The war brewing as Ducati nears its ultimate MotoGP prize
OPINION: Francesco Bagnaia has put one hand firmly on the 2022 MotoGP world title after winning the Malaysian Grand Prix, and the permutations are weighted heavily in his favour heading to the Valencia finale. But as Ducati stands on the cusp of something it has longed for since 2007, the Sepang race also hinted towards a future problem…