Uh oh, it looks like Valentino Rossi is out of the championship picture for this year...
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has been hospitalised after an endurance motocross accident, with reports coming out of Italy suggesting he has broken his right leg.
Italian media report that Rossi sustained the injury to both the tibia and fibula of the leg that he previously broke in his high-speed practice crash at Mugello in 2010.
That crash – which caused a displaced compound fracture to his tibia – put him out of the sport for 41 days.
Rossi is currently in Urbino Hospital, and is planned to have surgery on Friday. It is understood that he was riding an enduro bike on a downhill section when the accident occurred.
Rossi’s father Graziano told ANSA: “Valentino is not optimistic. They fear there is a fracture. To do the radiograph they had to cut the boot, and Valentino told me he feels very bad.”
The 38-year-old, nine-time world champion is currently fourth in the MotoGP standings, having recently finished third at Silverstone.
His Yamaha team issued the following statement: “Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team rider Valentino Rossi was involved in an enduro accident, during a training activity close to his hometown, on Thursday, August 31st.
“The 38-year-old Italian rider was taken to the 'Ospedale Civile di Urbino' for a check-up. A further medical bulletin will be issued in due course.”
https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/rossi-hospitalised-after-motocross-crash-947520/