Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP has confirmed the news that nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi will not take part in next weekend’s Gran Premio de Teruel.

Valentino Rossi, who tested positive for COVID-19, will miss the second consecutive race weekend at Aragon after being ruled out of both the Aragon Grand Prix and next weekend’s Gran Premio de Teruel.

Rossi, who has suffered four non-finishes this season, lies in 13th in the MotoGP standings with a single podium to his name but The Doctor will have to wait until Valencia to get another chance.

However, despite the Italian sidelined, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (YMC) and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP have decided not to replace the 41-year-old.

In a press release sent out by the factory Yamaha squad, they said ‘As per the Decree by the President of the Italian Council of Ministers, issued on Tuesday 13th October 2020, Rossi will not be permitted to attend next week‘s race event (23rd – 25th October). The Italian Covid-19 measures require any person who tests Covid-19 positive to be in self-isolation for 10 days from the moment of the test (in Rossi‘s case, Thursday 15th October).’

The decision not to replace him comes from the team “not wanting to put additional stress” on their crew members during the COVID period.

This means we will not see Jorge Lorenzo return to MotoGP action at a circuit the five-time World Champion has had prior success at.

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