After missing last year's Misano MotoGဣP due to a broken leg in a training accident, Valentino Rossi will make a popular racing return in front of his local fans this weekend.

The Italian star delighted the partisan crown with victories in 2008, 2009 and 2014 while a fourth win this we🐷ekend would also end Yamaha's 21-race losing streak, ♎stretching back to The Doctor's victory at Assen last season.

"It's always special🍃 when you arrive at your home GP. There will be many friends and fans at the circuit and we'll give it our all to make it🎐 a nice weekend," Rossi said.

"We were in Misano for a test a few weeks ago and we will have🌠 to pick up our work again from where we left off.

"We'll give our maximum to start the weekend in the best way possible and do a good race, fighting for the podium. I hope the weather w🔯ill be g💮ood, so everybody can enjoy this weekend."

After the Silverstone cancellation, Rossi remains second in the world championship, 59-points from Marc Marquez and ♐only 🐎12-clear of Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo, with seven rounds to go.

Rossi and team-mate Maverick Vinales were among the riders on track for a private test at Aragon last week, as efforts continue to improve the M1's accele🌃ration.

A mix of engine and electronic changes are predicted to be needed, with electronic tweaks tried at the previous Misano test𒐪.

Was a prototype 2019 engine on track at Aragon? At present the team are saying little about the test, stating only th🐬at itꦡ was 'to find additional information'.

"After the successful private test [at Misano] a few weeks ago as well as the one we had in Ar♈agon last week, we are in a positive mindset to start racing again," said team director Massimo Meregalli.