Rossi's Dad suggested retirement

"He looked at me and he simply told me that it's not possible to leave bikes in this way"

VALENTINO ROSSI'S father Graziano has said he suggested his son should consider retiring from motorcycle racing following his leg-breaking accident at Mugello MotoGP.

The nine-time world champion suffered a bad break to his lower right leg in the crash, undergoing surgery to pin the injury. Following the operation, Rossi's father said he urged his son not to rush his return to racing, perhaps even to retire:

"Frankly I've tried to tell him that perhaps it would be better to delay his return, maybe even until next season or even better to never come back," Graziano told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He looked at me and he simply told me that it's not possible to leave bikes in this way."

Earlier this week, Rossi tested a motorcycle for the first time since the crash, completing 26 laps of Misano circuit on a WSB-spec Yamaha.

The MotoGP champ has said he may make an early return to the sport and will confirm his decision next week.