Rossi released from hospital

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has been released from hospital in Florence to begin the long recovery from a broken right leg closer to his Tavullia home.

The 31-year-old has been undergoing treatment at the Centro Traumatologico Ortopedico after his 2010 title hopes were ruined by a spectacular high-side crash during practice for the Italian GP at Mugello The Fiat Yamaha rider, who is expected to miss at least the next five races in Silverstone, Assen, Catalunya, Sachsenring and Laguna Seca, was taken by ambulance to a helicopter and is now being flown to a hospital in Cattolica near the Misano circuit.

Rossi will meet with doctors to discuss the next stage of his recovery having undergone two operations on his right leg.

It could be as long as six further weeks before Rossi is able to put any weight on his leg and most predict a likely target for his return to racing will be his home race at Misano on September 5.