Rossi, 41, miraculously and composedly avoided being hit by Franco Morbidelli’s Yamaha or Johann Zarco’s Ducati after the pair collided through turn four, arguably the fastest part of the track, on lap eight.
Both Morbidelli and Zarco were unseated after their collision, with their vehicles flying through the air at terrific pace, yet somehow Rossi and Maverick Vinales managed to narrowly avoid being collected in what would’ve been a significant impact.
“Morbidelli’s bike nearly killed me,” a visibly shaken Rossi said.
“Even Zarco’s Ducati passed a few metres over me, it was a very dangerous moment.
Andrea Dovizioso won the GP while Rossi managed to finish the race in fifth despite the scare.
He added: “I was so scared. I am shaken, resuming the race was tough. I took the biggest risk of my career.
“I saw a shadow, I thought it was the helicopter from above, sometimes it happens during the race that the helicopter passes over and casts a shadow. Instead, two bullets arrived.
“The saint of motorcyclists today did a really great job, it was a very dangerous thing.”
Morbidelli was strong in his language towards Zarco, blaming him for the incident and claiming he was almost a “murderer”.
“Zarco is almost a murderer,” Morbidelli told Sky Sport Italia.
“Braking like this at 300 km/h means having little love for yourself or for those you are racing against.
“I hope this major incident makes Zarco think. It was really dangerous for me, him, for Rossi and Vinales who were up front and saw a bike coming at them at 280 per hour.”