Valentino Rossi escapes serious injury in motocross crash

Valentino Rossi was lucky to escape serious injury after the reigning MotoGP world champion suffered a heavy crash while training on a motocross bike in Italy yesterday (Thursday).

Rossi, who won his 104th Grand Prix in Qatar last weekend, had a painful right shoulder checked over by hospital staff and the 31-year-old was relieved to find no serious damage.

The Fiat Yamaha rider will be fit to ride his YZR-M1 next weekend in Japan, with Rossi enjoying more luck than some of his younger MotoGP rivals.

Two-wheeled training accidents have been the scourge of MotoGP riders in the past, with Jorge Lorenzo still not fully recovered from a badly broken right hand he suffered in February while riding a mini-bike with Carlos Checa.

Rossi’s team-mate was forced to miss the second Sepang test in Malaysia but rode to a brilliant second place in Qatar last Sunday night.

Rossi’s close pal Marco Simoncelli was less fortunate when he broke his wrist in a moto cross accident on the eve of the 2009 campaign.

The current San Carlo Gresini Honda rider missed the opening round because of the injury and he eventually lost the 2009 crown to Hiroshi Aoyama in a dramatic final round.