Rossi declared fit to ride at Aragon

Rossi, recovering from a right leg fracture sustained in a motocross training crash in late August, had already skipped the Misano MotoGP race and was expected to sit out Aragon as well.

But after testing a road bike for two days at Misano and undergoing a subsequent medical examination on Wednesday, the 38-year-old has opted to try and ride at Aragon.

His on-track MotoGP return could only be confirmed pending an on-track medical fitness test, which he has now passed.

Yamaha's statement read: "This afternoon Valentino Rossi successfully completed a mandatory medical examination carried out by MotorLand Aragon's Chrief Medical Officer, Clemente Millan.

"He declared that the nine-time world champion is fit to ride, 21 days after sustaining a leg injury."

Rossi being declared fit does not, however, guarantee that he will take part in the entirety of the race weekend.

The Italian, who sits 42 points behind joint MotoGP championship leaders Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso, said heading into the weekend: “If I will be declared fit to ride, I'll have the real answer after FP1, because riding the M1 [MotoGP bike] will be a much bigger challenge.”

Should Rossi decide against seeing out the weekend, his YZR-M1 machine will be handed over to World Superbike rider Michael van der Mark – who would make his premier-class grand prix racing debut.