Rossi's title defence over after crash

Reuters - Sat, 05 Jun 20:34:00 2010

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi's title defence was over on Saturday after he fractured his right leg in a crash during practice for the Italian Grand Prix and was ruled out for several months.

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The complicated break, involving his shin and fibula, meant he needed a three-hour operation after being flown from the Mugello circuit to a Florence hospital.

"The operation was perfectly successful. The recovery time is around four to five months," doctor Roberto Buzzi said.

The 31-year-old Yamaha rider was third fastest with 15 minutes remaining in Saturday's final practice session when he was thrown from his bike and suffered a nasty landing.

He had trouble getting up and was eventually carried away on a stretcher to be checked over by medical staff, who diagnosed the injury.

"I'm calm, they will do the best they can," Rossi, sporting a new Mohican haircut, was quoted as saying by Italian media before going for surgery.

The MotoGP season finishes with the Valencia Grand Prix on November 7 and Rossi may not be fit for that.

The nine-times motorcycling world champion, mulling a future move into rallying or Formula One, is second in this season's standings after three races with Yamaha team mate Jorge Lorenzo leading the way.

Rossi was fastest in Friday's first practice for his beloved home race but had complained he was still suffering shoulder problems which had hampered him in the early rounds of the season.

Moto GP – Mugello

Qualifying - Saturday 12pm LIVE on British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin 525) & on the Eurosport Player.

Races - Sunday 9.15am LIVE on British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin 525) & on the Eurosport Player.

Highlights - Sunday 6.15pm on British Eurosport & 9.30pm on British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin 525) & on the Eurosport Player.

Reuters

Comment 77 - 96 of 96

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  1. valentino go to kawasaki next season. ­ they are a sleeping giant. take your ­ crew with you. your the best. ­ sid dublin

    From sidwolf, on Tue 8 Jun 1:40

  2. Good luck and recover well Valentino, having suffered­ the exact same type of injury in my younger days, I­ know how painful and frustrating the next few months­ will be. We all look forwards to seeing you fit and­ well and vying for the title again.

    From slaphead666, on Mon 7 Jun 12:24

  3. i am a rossi fan an im very dissapointed by comments­ from his so called fans,yes it wont be the same without­ him there watching him battle it out with lorenzo,but­ do u really think he would be proud of you guys saying­ that all wins for the other riders are hollow now­ he's not there,no he wouldnt he would i think­ himself say that the situation is not good but may the­ best of the best who are left have a great season that­ he wishes them success in the fight for the­ championship,i wish vale a fast recovery and i wish all­ the other riders a fantastic season let a new battle­ commence

    From Karen, on Mon 7 Jun 10:16

  4. Sorry to hear about the leg, painful business. Still,­ who ever wins this year's title, it will NOT be a­ hollow victory. Rossi is getting a bit long in the­ tooth and "all the young dudes" need their­ chance. Every time they "get their leg over"­ they are risking their lives to do a job that they all­ love to the ends of the earth. Just wish I had more­ guts to even do a track day on my gixer 1000 (female­ aged 64 1/2 !) Rossi has been very fortunate to have­ raced for so many years, at the top, without too much­ damage to himself. I am not a great fan of his as Casey­ is my fav. rider. Rossi, I don't like the hair cut,­ maybe it'll grow by the time you're back on­ track..........Ro

    From Ro D, on Mon 7 Jun 4:45

  5. 94. nothing like a positive outlook is there?

    From Steve, on Mon 7 Jun 3:16

  6. get well soon vale, see ya next season, we all hope.

    From P, on Mon 7 Jun 3:13

  7. Pedrosa should take vale a big basket of fruit, as a ­ thank you. Its the one and only chance he has to win a­ GP800 title. And I bet he makes a mess of it now.

    From Stephen, on Mon 7 Jun 1:53

  8. reading these posts, It's just shocking to find out­ 90% of motogp are lay men. "motogp = rossi"­ for them, which is absolutely stupid. those who have­ been following FIM motocycle road racing champinship­ know that this is something of a "deja vu".­ It happened to almost all great riders, wayne rainy,­ mick doohan,dijiro kato, doriano ramboni(this one was a­ true racer indeed), alberto puig, who was seriousy­ challenging doohan at the time of his accident, daryl­ beatie (was no doubt one of the best until his­ accident). and, apart from the first trio, all the­ above mentioned riders have attempted a comeback but to­ no avail. I hope this will not be the case with rossi­ since we all want him back and racing. but, if, god­ forbid, this proves to be a career-ending accident, we­ must all believe in the sport and continue to cheer it­ on.look at the remaining men in both the motogp class­ ind the other classes, they are all there ready to­ risk their careers and sometimes lives to offer us a­ fantastic spertacle.

    From dadismima, on Mon 7 Jun 1:52

  9. Get well soon Vale, who ever takes the title now should­ be aware that it is a hollow victory, they have not­ fought it out with the master. Get well, come back soon­ and kick a##.

    From Stephen, on Mon 7 Jun 1:48

  10. good luck valentino, get well soon we need you back,­ you are moto gp top man the doc

    From steve t, on Mon 7 Jun 0:05

  11. Get well soon Vale. Motogp needs you. We all love the ­ battles between you and Jorge. All the best Dave H.

    From David, on Sun 6 Jun 23:12

  12. Oh my god,what a huge lost for the greatest rider in­ the world,moto Gp is nothing without your presence,its­ not the same to watch the moto GP without Valentino­ Rossi,I am already praying for you to get well soon,and­ make a fast comeback,we are very dissappionted as much­ as you may be,but it could have been worst,so we have­ just to wait and pray for a fast recovery and see our­ doctor on track again,take care vale Mario spiteri­ from Malta

    From mario S, on Sun 6 Jun 22:59

  13. GET WELL SOON DOC FROM SUE ALI BOSTON

    From ALISON, on Sun 6 Jun 22:54

  14. GET WELL SOON DOC FROM SUE ALI BOSTON

    From ALISON, on Sun 6 Jun 22:52

  15. boring now the goat is out! heal well vale!

    From jimbob333, on Sun 6 Jun 21:56

  16. Ohh, Get well soon Rossi, all your rivals are happy­ now, there's no motogp without u, get well soon and­ come back quickly show them that they can win only when­ you are injured. Hope seeing you back soon.

    From juno46, on Sun 6 Jun 18:52

  17. For one the title is open now, bet the rest are­ releaved

    From Kevin, on Sun 6 Jun 16:41

  18. Just don't give up ! We are always with you, Vale !­ Hope to see you soon back on the track !

    From Frederikas, on Sun 6 Jun 14:33

  19. Bad Luck Valentino. Even worse luck for Dorna. ­ Points to 15th with probably only 16 bikes starting the­ race. Basically build youself a bike, 'putt­ putt' around and get points in what is supposed to­ be the premier Bike race series. No wonder the­ majority manufacturers are using WSB as the platform­ for racing. When Valentino leaves motogp it will die­ on its Ar%e and Dorna will buy WSB from the­ Flammini's for megabucks. What will happen to all­ the Rossi chasers then?

    From simonwigg, on Sun 6 Jun 14:22
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    thats what happens when rossi is under real pressure HE­ CRACKS thank you lorenzo you manage to send the­ doctor where he belongs in THE HOSPITAL

    From Urseni, on Sun 6 Jun 14:16
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