Rossi has vowed he won't return to racing until he's 100 percent fit.

Injured MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi has vowed that he won’t return to racing until he is 100 percent fit following his high-speed crash last Saturday at Mugello’s Italian Grand Prix.

Rossi suffered a broken right tibia in the fall, immediately undergoing surgery in Florence, and is expected to be out of action for at least six weeks.

In speaking about the incident from his hospital bed, Rossi explained to those at the circuit in Mugello on Sunday his thoughts on what was the first major injury of his glowing career.

“I want to thank everyone at Mugello and also all the riders who have wished me well, it’s always a great feeling,” said Rossi.

“The operation went well, doctor [Roberto] 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 then they will close and stitch the wound, then we will wait and begin a good rehabilitation program.”

In speaking of the crash that saw him highsided from his Fiat Yamaha YZR-M1, Rossi said he has watched the incident on the closed circuit cameras that captured the footage.

“They were difficult moments because it was a bad crash and a bad injury,” the 31-year-old explained. “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.

“Now I can say my morale is reasonably high because I’ve discovered I have a great rapport with morphine!”

While rumours of a return continue to speculate he’ll miss four races, Rossi admitted he hasn’t put a date on his comeback just yet.

“It will take some time, but the important thing is that I’ll return at 100 percent,” he revealed.

Rossi underwent a second surgery yesterday to close the wound after his previous operation, now truly on the road to recovery over the coming weeks.

“Today Valentino underwent another small operation to close the wound, which is looking good,” doctor Buzzi said. “We closed it with 15 stitches and our overall medical judgement is positive. We used a short general anaesthetic and when he woke up he was in good shape. The healing process of the injury is going well and as expected in Valentino’s condition.”

Regulations state that Fiat Yamaha has to place a fill-in rider on Rossi’s factory M1 after two races, however there’s been no sign as to who that rider may be at this point.