URBINO, Italy (AP) - Seven-time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi fears he may have broken his right leg after a training accident in Italy on Thursday.
In a brief statement, Rossi’s Yahama team said he was involved in an enduro accident close to his home town of Urbino, in the east of Italy, and had been taken to hospital there.
“I spoke to him, his leg really hurts and Valentino is not optimistic … it’s a disaster,” his father, Graziano Rossi, told Italian national news agency Ansa.
“I know that they still have to do an X-ray and they fear it’s broken. To do the X-ray they have to cut off the boot and Valentino told me he is in a lot of pain.”
Italian media reported Rossi has fractured his tibia and fibula.
It was the same leg the Italian broke in 2010, in a practice session at Mugello, ahead of his home grand prix.
Rossi was third at Silverstone on Sunday in his 300th premier class grand prix.
The 38-year-old, who has finished runner-up the past three seasons, is fourth in the overall standings, 26 points below current leader Andrea Dovizioso.
Rossi won seven titles in the top class - his first in 500cc and then six in MotoGP - and two more titles in the lower classes.
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