Mugello MotoGP: Valentino Rossi suffers massive crash

Valentino Rossi has suffered a huge high-side crash during final practice for his home race at the Mugello circuit in Italy this morning.

The reigning world champion was viciously thrown from his factory Yamaha YZR-M1 machine at the fast entry to the Biondetti chicane shortly before the approach to the final corner.

Rossi couldn’t even attempt to get to his feet as he immediately clutched his right leg in pain. TV pictures showed the 31-year-old grimacing in pain before he was carried away on a stretcher for further checks in the circuit medical centre.

The Fiat Yamaha rider was lying in third place on the timesheets when he crashed with a best time of 1.49.923 leaving him 0.251s off the pace of team-mate and world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo.

Rossi was already struggling for full fitness because of a slow recovery from a damaged right shoulder he suffered in a motocross training accident in April.

He eventually ended fourth fastest with Lorenzo fastest with a best time of 1.49.559.
Repsol Honda duo Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa were second and third respectively but Lorenzo was 0.338s clear.