MotoGP: Rossi admitted to hospital after motocross accident

Valentino Rossi has been admitted to Rimini hospital for observation after suffering mild chest and abdominal injuries during a motocross crash while training this afternoon. The crash happened at the Crossodromo Cavallara, a circuit located some 50km from his home in Tavullia.

While details remain uncertain about the exact nature of the crash, Italian media are reporting that he is undergoing observation for chest and abdominal injuries. However, while these injuries are bad enough to warrant a night under observation in local hospital, initial reports suggest that they do not appear to be severe.

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The news could have a critical effect on the 2017 MotoGP championship season, however, if it means that the Movistar Yamaha rider is not at full fitness for the coming weeks. The championship is about to enter the most intense section of the season, with four races coming up in the next five weeks, kicking off at the first of his home races in Mugello next weekend.

The nine-time world champion is not a regular on a motocross, since a shoulder injury in early 2010 left his entire season in disarray. Crashing early in the year and damaging tendons and ligaments, Rossi nearly withdrew from the championship race early to undergo surgery after being left in near-constant pain. He eventually had it operated on in November of the same year, days after making his Ducati debut at Valencia.

Since then he has largely followed in the footsteps of his American heroes and switched his training to flat track riding, most famously at the VR46 Moto Ranch that he built outside his home town of Tavullia and that he regularly uses for training with his VR46 Academy riders.

Update 2300 25/05/17: Yamaha have confirmed in an official statement that Rossi has no fractures and has not suffered serious trauma in the crash. A further update on his condition will be made tomorrow at 11am UK time.

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