Ducati team boss injured on eve of first tests

Ducati factory team boss David Tardozzi will be forced to miss the first proper test of the 2002 Ducati 998R this week, after breaking his leg in a car crash.

Tardozzi, a former racer and the man who inspired Carl Fogarty to WSB victory, was driving to the airport to fly from Italy to Spain. He underwent an operation to repair some of the damage on Monday.

A Ducati spokesman said: ” Davide is fed-up but OK. ”

New WSB champion Troy Bayliss and team-mate Ruben Xaus will ride the new bike at Valencia on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. We’ll bring you updates as they happen.