Valentino Rossi showed some good humour as he talked about his operation from the hospital at the Centro Traumatologico Ortopedico (Centre for Orthopaedic Trauma) in Florence, Italy on Sunday.

The World hero, who needed to have a repair done to his fractured right tibia, was interviewed by Guido Meda from Mediaset just prior to Sunday’s Gran Premio d’Italia TIM at Mugello, the first event he has missed since his 125cc World Championship debut in 1996.

Rossi’s first words were of much gratitude to Doctor Buzzi at the CTO, the surgeon who performed his successful operation, plus the "Doctor" also discussed how heart felt he was by the variety of tributes from his fellow competitors on Sunday, which included Fiat Yamaha colleage and rival Jorge Lorenzo, calling him a ‘legend’.

“I want to thank everyone at Mugello and also all the riders who have wished me well: it’s always a great feeling,” says Rossi. “The operation went well, Doctor Buzzi has been exceptional and they are treating me like I’m part of the family here. I have had a pin inserted into my leg and tomorrow they will close and stitch the wound, then we will wait and begin a good rehabilitation programme.”

Rossi remembers the crash in practice that threw him from his bike. “They were difficult moments because it was a bad crash and a bad injury. I’ve watched the accident again and to see how my ankle looked was not a good feeling. There were a few moments of fear, but now I’m doing well,” he adds.

“Now I can say my morale is reasonably high because I’ve discovered I have a great rapport with morphine!” he joked, prior to continuing that he was well and on the way to recovery with another comment about the event, which Dani Pedrosa won just before the interview. “I hope nobody wins!”

Rossi now intends to take ample time in order to fully recover, he continues, “It will take some time, but the important thing is that I’ll return at 100%.”