Estoril MotoGP: Valentino Rossi unhurt after big high-side crash

Valentino Rossi’s bid to end his long winless streak in Portugal this weekend has started in painful but fast fashion with the Italian suffering a big high-side crash in the opening MotoGP free practice session.

The 29-year-old lost the rear end of his factory Fiat Yamaha in damp conditions at the fast final corner just as he was poised to jump ahead of Casey Stoner for the fastest time at that stage of the session.

The seven-times world champion was 0.246s up on Stoner’s best lap through the first three times split sections when he crashed. He walked away unhurt despite slamming down hard on the right side of his body.

Rossi, who scored his first Bridgestone podium last month with second in Jerez, was never outside the top two times after the early stages and he ended with the second fastest time, clocking a best lap of 1.48.599.

That was 0.699s behind quickest rider Casey Stoner as a strong wind quickly dried the track in the final 15 minutes. By the end of the session the track was almost completely dry.

Rossi’s last victory in MotoGP was in Estoril, and he goes into Sunday’s 28-lap race bidding to end his worst run without a win since his premier class rookie campaign in 2000.