Pictures: Rossi's miracle save.
Valentino Rossi's first wet GP with Yamaha proved nothing short of dramatic, with the five-times world champion forced to use all his doubtless talent to keep the #46 M1 under control in the treacherous conditions.
As these pictures show, the Italian's biggest scare came on lap 12 when the rear wheel of his Gauloises liveried machine slid out under acceleration - then gripped - throwing 'The Doctor' into the air.
Valentino Rossi's first wet GP with Yamaha proved nothing short of dramatic, with the five-times world champion forced to use all his doubtless talent to keep the #46 M1 under control in the treacherous conditions.
As these pictures show, the Italian's biggest scare came on lap 12 when the rear wheel of his Gauloises liveried machine slid out under acceleration - then gripped - throwing 'The Doctor' into the air.
Amazingly, Vale kept control and didn't even run off track, although the 'moment' would allow Alex Barros through to an eventual third, while Rossi would go on to take fourth, the first time he'd been off the podium since Brno 2002.
"It was a miracle not to fall off," admitted Rossi after returning to the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha pits.
Sete Gibernau would win the Spanish Grand Prix ahead of Max Biaggi to take the world championship lead. Rossi is now third, three points behind the Telefonica Honda rider.
Viewers who want prints of Rossi's spectacular save need simply click on the 'buy' option beneath the relevant picture.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
