World Superbike rider Garrett Gerloff has been called back to Valencia by the Yamaha MotoGP squad according to The Race’s sources, as rumours indicate Valentino Rossi could have tested positive for COVID-19 again.
Works Yamaha rider Rossi tested positive for the illness ahead of the first of two rounds at the Motorland Aragon circuit last month, with MotoGP’s strict protocols meaning that he was therefore unable to ride in either race.
The team chose not to replace Rossi for either of those two races but drafted in Yamaha World Superbike rider Gerloff as a stand-in for the European Grand Prix – also at Valencia – last weekend, where the American impressed on the opening day of track action before Rossi subsequently took over for Saturday’s free practice three and the rest of the weekend.
In the race, Rossi retired after five laps with a presumed fuel pressure issue.
It’s possible that any further test outcome Rossi has had this week is merely a false positive – but with the rules stating that all paddock personnel must present two simultaneous negative tests after a positive one, it could well mean that his weekend’s preparations are once again thrown into disarray.
Gerloff, an American who currently resides near Barcelona, has been once again called up to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo ahead of this weekend’s Valencian Grand Prix, with the Texan already en route to Valencia according to The Race’s sources.
Yamaha was unavailable for comment when contacted by The Race.
So far Yamaha has been the worst-hit MotoGP team during the coronavirus pandemic.
Team boss Massimo Meregalli is among five members of both Maverick Vinales’ and Rossi’s crews who are currently in isolation.
Vinales was at risk of catching the illness after admitting to The Race last weekend that he had potentially been exposed when his data engineer, one of the key members of his crew, tested positive halfway through the European Grand Prix weekend.
Six of its Japanese engineers were forced to isolate in Andorra ahead of the Catalan Grand Prix in September, after Yamaha’s Michelin tyre technician also had to isolate at Aragon.
