ROSSI REPLACEMENT ON STANDBY

Valentino Rossi replacement on standby – Photo: LAT

World Superbike rider Garrett Gerloff is on standby to replace Valentino Rossi at this weekend’s European Grand Prix, after the MotoGP legend tested positive to COVID-19 once again.

By DAN McCARTHY

Rossi missed both races at the Motorland Aragon circuit in Spain seeing out the required isolation, however Rossi has continued to test positive for the virus, most recently yesterday.

As a result, WSBK rider Gerloff has been called in to replace Rossi if the nine-time World Champion continues to test positive.

The Italian must test negative in two separate PCR test results before the start of the race event to take part.

“This virus is very complicated and serious,” Rossi said. “I felt bad for two days, then in a few days I came back to being fully fit, at my 100%.

“I self-isolated at home all the time and I followed the medical advice closely. It‘s a very sad and difficult situation, but that‘s the way it is.

“Unfortunately, yesterday, I had another test, and it came back positive again, like all previous ones. Luckily, I still have two more chances to be back on track on Friday or Saturday.”

If Rossi tests negative later today, the Italian will still have enough time to complete the required second PCR test and if negative again, fly to Valencia.

Factory Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli says that the squad is as ready as it can be for either eventuality.

“These are strange circumstances, we don‘t know for certain who will be riding the bike this weekend, apart from Maverick (Vinales),” he said.

“But this is a situation that‘s beyond our control, so all we can do is make sure we are prepared for every eventuality.

“In any case, we are thankful to Garrett Gerloff that he is willing to take on the challenge of riding the YZR-M1.

“It‘s never an easy task to step in for Vale, these are big shoes to fill, and it‘s especially challenging for Gerloff, having had so little preparation and without any prior MotoGP experience.

Gerloff rode for the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team in the FIM World Superbike Championship this year and shone late on scoring three podiums in the last seven races.

Should Rossi not be able to ride, the American substitute is in for a massive learning curve having never ridden a bike at the Valencia circuit, or hopped on a Yamaha YZR-M1.

“I‘m so honoured that Yamaha has considered me for this opportunity,” Gerloff said.

“This year has already been quite the adventure, and this would be the cherry on top.

“It‘s been a dream of mine to ride the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike since I started racing so many years ago, and to potentially have it happen is really exciting.

“But I am just sorry to get this opportunity under these unfortunate circumstances for Valentino.”

Gerloff’s surprise call up casts doubt over test rider and three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo’s continuation with Yamaha going into 2021.

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