Italian rider Valentino Rossi has made a remarkable comeback from injury finishing fifth in the Aragon MotoGP barely three weeks after suffering a broken leg.
Valentino Rossi back in action Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Defending champion Marc Marquez won the race to take a 16-point lead in the world championship standings.
Nine time champion Rossi, who was at one stage lying second, finished fifth on his Yamaha. Rossi was hospitalised late in August with a double fracture to his right leg while riding an off-road enduro bike .
It was an all Spanish podium, as Honda team mate Dani Pedrosa was second and Jorge Lorenzo third for Ducati.
Teammate Maverick Vinales, who started on pole, was fourth and Aleix Espargaro of Aprilia sixth.
Briton Cal Crutchlow was in contention for a top-six place but crashed and had to retire on lap 17.
Spaniard Marquez started only fifth but improved on a slow start and steadily made up ground.
By winning with four rounds remaining he was able to take a clear lead in the standings as Andrea Dovizioso, previously the joint leader, managed only seventh place.
Marquez, who also won in San Marino two weeks ago, now has 224 points, Dovizioso 208 and Vinales 196.
-AAP
