Rossi awaiting results, Gerloff to make MotoGP debut

Monster Yamaha has confirmed that Garrett Gerloff will make his MotoGP debut during today's pair of free practice session at Valencia, while Valentino Rossi awaits the results of his latest PCR (Covid) test.

After obtaining a negative test result on Thursday, Rossi made his way to Spain. This morning (Friday) he took another PCR test as per FIM requirements and is currently waiting for the result, which is expected later this evening.

Should he test negative, Rossi - who missed both Aragon rounds after a Covid diagnosis - will take part in the European MotoGP from Saturday onwards.

But in the meantime, Gerloff will take the Italian's place for the (currently wet) Friday sessions.

The decision to select the Texan, 25 - who took three podiums during his rookie WorldSBK campaign but has never ridden a MotoGP lap - rather than offer the chance to Yamaha test rider and five-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo also suggests the #99 is unlikely to have a future role with the factory.

Valencia will host two back-to-back rounds, followed by the Portimao finale the following weekend. Rossi will then move to the satellite Petronas Yamaha team for 2021.