Valentino Rossi, as usual, was many people’s favourite to win the World MotoGP championship in 2010, so it was no surprise that the new season began with Rossi winning the first race in Qatar after early leader Casey Stoner crashed out.
But his season was hindered when he injured his shoulder and back while training on a moto-cross bike after the Japanese Grand Prix, then even worse at his home race at Mugello, Rossi crashed in the second free practice session, around the Biondetti corner, at around 120 mph (190 km/h) and suffered a displaced compound fracture of his right leg.
The injury was initially expected to keep him out for the season and meant that Rossi had missed a race in his Grand Prix career for the first time.
Surprising everyone, Rossi made his comeback at the German Grand Prix, two rounds earlier than predicted and only 41 days after the accident, ending the race in fourth place and just three months later, he won the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.
