Petrucci to undergo surgery for broken hand

Octo Pramac Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci will undergo surgery on Monday to plate the second, third and fourth metacarpals he broke in his right hand after a high-speed fall at Phillip Island’s turn eight.

The 2015 podium finisher fell in the closing stages of the final day of the test, one of a number of riders brought down after being caught out by cooling track conditions.

He’ll remain in Melbourne for the surgery, before flying back to his native Italy later in the week.

And while the target for his return is the opening round at Qatar in five weeks time, team boss Francesco Guidotti says it’s too early to speculate on when the Italian will be back to fitness.

“It’s never the right time to fall and hurt but surely this is a particularly sensitive time. It is frustrating, we know, but we must look to the future with strength and determination. We have to focus on the Danilo’s recovery, and we are confident that he will recover soon: the hope is that he will be on track for the GP in Qatar but now is too early to have a clear idea.”

Not the best place for crash.
Non il miglior posto per cadere. pic.twitter.com/zdPao32is3

— Danilo Petrucci (@Petrux9) February 20, 2016