The beloved Italian rider has had a string of bad luck, which continued at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.
Rossi crashed out of the race on Turn 8 and collected Japanese rider Taka Nakagami on the way.
The extremely fast crash saw both riders drive straight off the track at high speed.
Rossi quickly ran to Nakagami’s side to apologise and assist.
It was a disappointing end to the Assen GP, which is one of Rossi’s favourite tracks.
In the post-race press conference, Rossi explained what had happened: “I was battling with Nakagami and I tried to overtake him, entering turn eight, but I was a bit too much off the [race] line, I think.”
“When I entered the corner, I lost the front and unfortunately I also took out Nakagami, so that’s a great shame and I have to say ‘sorry’,” Rossi continued.
Rossi crashed out of his home grand prix at Mugello earlier in June, during a weekend of struggle with his Yamaha.
At the last race in Spain, Rossi did not finish after Jorge Lorenzo caused a four-bike pile up, which included Rossi.
He did not manage to make it out of Qualifying 1 over the weekend either.
Rossi almost made Qualifying 2 during the third Free Practice session.
However, his best laptime was cancelled due to breaching track limits during the session.
Only 12 riders, determined by achieving a top 12 laptime, will proceed to Qualifying 2.
The Doctor qualified 14th for the race, his poorest starting position for the Assen GP since 2006.
The crash by Rossi on race-day was unfortunate, with the 40-year-old later explaining that he felt his Yamaha was performing better on race-day than it had been in practice or qualifying sessions.
“It was a mistake and a pity, because today, after being slow this weekend, we had found something, so during the race I was good,” he said.
“I felt good with the bike.
“So, on one side this makes it an even bigger shame, but on the other side it’s also important to realise that I was suffering too much this weekend and that we need to be stronger.”
The Assen GP was won by Maverick Vinales from Spain, with second place going to Marc Marquez (Spain) and third to Fabio Quartararo (France).
Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso came in fourth; he remains at second on the table, behind Marquez.
With one more race before the mid-season Motorcycle Grand Prix break, there’s no waiting for the German GP which will take place this Sunday, July 7, at 10:00 pm AEST.
Dutch GP Results
- Vinales (SPA) - Monster Yamaha
- Marquez (SPA) - Repsol Honda
- Quartararo (FRA) - Petronas Yamaha
- Dovizioso (ITA) – Ducati
- Morbidelli (ITA) - Petronas Yamaha
- Petrucci (ITA) – Ducati
- Crutchlow (GBR) - LCR Honda
- Mir (SPA) - Suzuki Ecstar
- Miller (AUS) - Pramac Ducati
- Iannone (ITA) - Factory Aprilia Gresini
- Pol Espargaro (SPA) – Red Bull KTM Factory
- Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Factory Aprilia Gresini
- Oliveira (POR) - Red Bull KTM Tech3
- Bagnaia (ITA) - Pramac Ducati
- Syahrin (MAL) - Red Bull KTM Tech3
- Rabat (SPA) - Reale Avintia Ducati
- Abraham (CZE) - Reale Avintia Ducati (+1 lap)
DID NOT FINISH
Rossi (ITA) - Monster Yamaha
Zarco (FRA) - Red Bull KTM Factory
Rins (SPA) - Suzuki Ecstar
Nakagami (JPN) - LCR Honda
