Can Rossi produce a Tiger Woods-style comeback?

For a few laps during MotoGP's Austin race, Valentino Rossi not only led the grand prix but provisionally led the world championship for the first time in two years.

Ultimately, Suzuki's Alex Rins would ruin his party, and Rossi will have to wait a little longer to add to his 89 premier class victories. He also finds himself still behind new leader Andrea Dovizioso in the championship thanks to the late changes to the Austin order.

But Rossi had proven to be Marc Marquez's most consistent challenger throughout the weekend at a venue at which Honda's reigning champion had - until last Sunday's inexplicable crash - dominated.

Just a few minutes before the start of the Austin race, golfing megastar Tiger Woods - who, like Rossi, can claim to transcend his sport - won the US Masters. It's a fantastic achievement for one of the active legends of his discipline. Many hailed it as sport's greatest-ever comeback.

It was truly remarkable, and a wondrous triumph of will over an injury-ravaged body that's been rebuilt many times to put Woods back out on to the golf course, but it was hardly Niki Lauda in 1976 levels.

Cast your mind back to Rossi's horrendous leg break at Mugello in 2010, and a shoulder injury from that year in a motocross accident that continues to plague him.

There was a reminder of the latter after qualifying, as Rossi admitted the unexpectedly long lie-in he'd enjoyed due to the "hurricane" that had cancelled morning practice had left his shoulder stiff, requiring a physio to coax it back into life for the rigours of the 20-turn track that features a 205mph straight and the hugely physically demanding Esses section.

He then lapped his Yamaha 0.273 seconds off Marquez's pole time in qualifying to line up in second place. It takes a legend to know one, and three-time 500cc champion Kenny Roberts Sr was asked if he was surprised by Rossi's longevity in running at the front for 20-plus years.

"Absolutely, he should be in a rocking chair!" Roberts joked. "I was thinking about this the other day, I think Wayne Rainey would have followed that path [of a multi-decade career], but the bikes of that time were a little more violent. It took more of a toll on your body.

"One thing with Valentino and his longevity is that he's not hurt all of the time. That's amazing. That's the main factor of getting old while continuing the pace that he can run. Coming off a two-stroke initially, and with the lean angle of a modern-day GP bike, it's amazing that he's been able to do that."

On race day Rossi hung with Marquez for a couple of laps, admitting he was riding flat-out from the start, but was unable to keep up with his pace beyond that.

While leading by almost four seconds, Marquez then took his tumble, much to the surprise of Rossi (along with the rest of us), and a statement he'd made on Thursday - when asked if Marquez was unbeatable at Austin - seemed prescient.

"You don't start from home, saying he's impossible to beat," said Rossi. "You always try to improve, try to be stronger and try to arrive in front."

He was now in front. A gift, but Rossi's fallen himself while leading too. He was determined not to follow suit - and that perhaps was his undoing.

The chasing Rins hadn't really looked a major threat. That had been coming from Cal Crutchlow's LCR Honda, but the Briton had crashed out just before Marquez.

Rins immediately produced a lap half a second quicker than Rossi, and it was clear this was the young Suzuki rider's big moment to shine. He'd had a close-up view of Crutchlow's demise, and wasn't about to risk everything.

With Jorge Lorenzo's well-documented struggles, this is Honda's worst start since 2005 - with three of its factory rivals all ahead

The way he closed up on Rossi, stalked him for a couple of laps, and then made a decisive pass - at a corner that surprised his prey - was a veteran's performance from a 23-year old. Of course, Rossi's reaction to being passed was to re-attack, as he always does.

But Rossi over-reached himself with an overly-ambitious lunge into the tight Turn 12, losing more time in the process. Rins had a few wobbles and moments out front, but he brought it home in front to score his first MotoGP victory.

"He rides very cleverly," praised Rossi afterwards in the press conference, perhaps seeing something of himself in Rins.

"He's very smooth with everything, this is very important: to save the tyre in the second half of the race, he's always strong. He's very difficult to beat. He's always fast in the race, even if he sometimes struggles in practice. I'm happy about this because I'm more or less in the same boat! He arrived [on my tail] very well.

"He rode two or three places on a very good line to avoid the bumps, he was very strong on braking, and it looks like the bike is good. He can bring the bike to the limit. In the end, he was a bit faster than me."

The last comment produced a gleaming smile across Rins's face. He'd just beaten his childhood idol in a straight fight. Sure, he benefited from the crashes of Marquez and Crutchlow, but this was no lucky win - he had earned it, as had Suzuki.

With Jorge Lorenzo's well-documented struggles, this is Honda's worst start since 2005, with three of its factory rivals - Ducati, Yamaha, Suzuki - all ahead in the teams' standings.

"If we have to get something positive, it's that we are only nine points behind the leader," said Marquez on Sunday after his costly tumble. "But it is annoying to have thrown away 25 points on a circuit where I feel so comfortable."

Rossi concurred: "The championship is very interesting, especially after the mistake of Marquez. Four different riders on different bikes within nine points.

"Now MotoGP is like Formula 1: everybody is working and improving the bike. In 2017 after Austin, I was first in the championship, and after we arrived in Europe, Honda and Ducati improved, and the second half of the season was a disaster.

Just like Tiger Woods had to beat the biggest names in golf to claim his comeback glory, if Rossi is to emulate him it's going to be the hard way

"So we need to take these points, but keep concentrated and push Yamaha to work, to improve the bike, because usually the second half of the season everybody makes a step. In all three races this year I was competitive, this is the most important [thing], we have to continue like this."

Ducati man Dovizioso can count himself hugely fortunate to be leading the championship after a disastrous qualifying, but an excellent "damage limitation" ride almost got him on to the podium.

Rossi is only three points behind, but six up on Marquez. And then there's Rins - is he a genuine contender now too?

"Yeah, I think for sure as an opponent for the title," said Rossi. "Because it's not one race, he was strong in the second part of last season. He is always [at the] front."

Just like Tiger Woods had to beat the biggest names in golf to claim his comeback glory, if Rossi is to emulate him by also winning a title in 2019 10 years after his last it's going to be the hard way. That includes beating Marquez, Dovizioso, Rins, the lot - and he wouldn't want it any other way.