German MotoGP, Sachsenring, Sunday, 18 July
Qualifying live on BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website from 1150-1500 BST on Saturday125cc/Moto2 races live on Red Button and BBC Sport website from 0950-1205 BST on Sunday Race live on BBC Two and BBC Sport website from 1240-1400 BST on Sunday Full coverage details

Rossi ready to race in Germany

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has been cleared to make a shock return at Sunday's German MotoGP.

The Italian seven-time world champion fractured his right shin at Mugello on 5 June, an injury expected to rule the 31-year-old out for up to six months.

However, the chief medical officer for the Sachsenring race said on Thursday the Fiat Yamaha rider is fit to race.

"I'm in pretty good shape but it will be difficult over full race distance, I think," said Rossi.

"Immediately after the crash the doctors said it could be five months before I was fit to return.

"I ignored that as it would maybe take five months to play football, but I just need to ride the bike."

Rossi had two operations to pin his broken bone back together and is aiming to do well on Sunday despite being unable to walk without crutches.

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The Italian, who has been sidelined for the past four races, was determined to return to racing as soon as possible after his accident during the Italian MotoGP.

He in seventh place in the championship and 104 points behind leader and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, having slipped from second position during his absence.

However, there are 275 points to play and Rossi says he will do his best to catch the Spaniard.

"These two races at Sachsenring and Laguna Seca are very important if I am to come back in good shape for the last five or six races of the season and try again to win," said Rossi, who has been linked with a move to Ducati for the 2011 campaign.

"It is not impossible to catch up 100 points - there are 11 races left - but of course it would be very, very difficult."

The Italian was already suffering from a shoulder injury at the time he broke his leg and says that could be a bigger problem on Sunday.

"My shoulder has improved a lot as well but there is still some pain. The injury to the leg was worse but I think it will be less of a problem on the bike than the shoulder," he stated.

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