MotoGP: Rossi undergoes successful surgery

Valentino Rossi has undergone successful surgery to have the broken tibia in his left leg pinned, being operated on last night at 0200 after crashing while training on an enduro bike yesterday afternoon near his home in Italy.

The surgery was to insert internal fixation into the tibia bone, performed by Dr. Raffaele Pascarella, Director of the Orthopaedics and Traumatology Division at the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti in Ancona. He inserted a locked intramedullary nail into the large bone in Rossi’s lower leg without complications.

And, speaking after surgery through an official Yamaha statement, the nine-time world champion was quick to pay tribute to his doctors – and to say that he’s planning on being back in action as soon as possible.

“The surgery went well. This morning, when I woke up, I felt already good. I would like to thank the staff of the Ospedali Riuniti in Ancona, and in particular Doctor Pascarella who operated on me. I’m very sorry for the incident. Now I want to be back on my bike as soon as possible. I will do my best to make it happen!”

It will most likely bring to an end his 2017 championship aspirations, however, as he currently sits in fourth place in the series some 26 points adrift of championship leader Andrea Dovizioso with only six rounds remaining, at least two of which (Misano and Aragon) he is almost certain to miss.