Valentino Rossi has shoulder surgery

Valentino Rossi has finally undergone surgery on the right shoulder injury that dominated headlines during the 2010 MotoGP world championship.

The 31-year-old had a two-hour operation at the Cervesi di Cattolica Hospital yesterday (Sunday) to repair serious tendon and ligament damage Rossi suffered in a motocross training accident back on April 15.

The injury left the nine-times world champion in almost constant pain and at one stage during the season, the discomfort was such a distraction that Rossi contemplated withdrawing from the championship early to undergo surgery.

The operation was performed by Doctor Alex Castagna from the Humanitas Institute in Milan and shoulder specialist Dr Giuseppe Porcellini based in Rimini near Rossi’s Tavullia home.

A statement on Rossi’s personal website said: ‘Valentino didn’t want to wait anymore as he was tired of feeling pain, even while asleep, at his right shoulder.

‘So after completing his commitments on the track, Vale decided to go under surgery as soon as possible.’

The surgeons said the operation was a success and both said that Rossi had been heroic to continue racing given the extent of the damage.

‘The condition of the shoulder was really critical: Valentino really had to be tough to keep racing with that kind of injury, ‘said Dr Castagna and Dr Porcellini.

More details of the precise problem that had hindered Rossi so much during the season were revealed, with the supraspinatus tendon and glenoid ligament damaged in the motocross accident.

Rossi, who made his factory Ducati debut in Valencia last week, is expected to be fully fit for his next test on the GP11 at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia on February 1.

That is 78 days away, with surgeons advising a normal rehabilitation period from Rossi’s surgery of 90 days.

The former Fiat Yamaha rider was due to be released from hospital today.
For a full eight-page review of last week’s Valencia test, including Rossi’s long-awaited Ducati debut, see the November 17 issue of MCN.