Nine-time world champion, Valentino Rossi broke his shin bone Saturday during a crash in practice ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. Rossi lost control of his Yamaha while changing direction between two curves at turn 13 on his second practice run. He flipped in the air and landed hard on his right leg, while traveling at 180 kph (110 mph). Dr. Buzzi described the injury as the worst kind he has operated on and was doubtful that Rossi would return to racing this year.

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) ? Valentino Rossi spent a comfortable first night in hospital following an operation to secure a broken shin bone.
Rossi broke his leg Saturday during a crash in practice ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. After an x-ray at the Mugello circuit's medical facility, he was moved by helicopter to the Careggi medical center in Florence.
"Hello to all the fans, I'm doing OK," Rossi said in a conference call. "It was an awful crash and a terrible injury, but it's going well.
"The operation went well. Dr. (Roberto) Buzzi (the surgeon) did excellent work and treated me like a part of his family," he said. "Tomorrow there will be another operation to close the wound, then we will start to think about rehabilitation."
Rossi lost control of his Yamaha while changing direction between two curves at turn 13 on his second practice run. He flipped in the air and landed hard on his right leg, while traveling at 180 kph (110 mph).
"I saw the incident and it was awful, worse than anything I've seen in MotoGP," Rossi said. "They are bad times and you are scared, but now things are improving."
Rossi was in surgery for two-and-a half-hours to repair a displaced and exposed fracture of his right tibia.
"This morning Valentino is fine and he asked to have a television so that he can watch the Grand Prix," Dr. Buzzi said. "He doesn't have pain or fever and is in bed. He was fine overnight and recovering as we hoped.
"Tomorrow we will wash and stitch the wound," he said. "Later he will be moved to another ward where he will be more comfortable."
The nine-time world champion is expected to stay in hospital for a week and has been told recovery will take between four and six months.
Dr. Buzzi described the injury as the worst kind he has operated on and was doubtful that Rossi would return to racing this year.
It will be the first time that Rossi has not competed in his home Grand Prix, a race he has won nine times. It also ends his record run of 230 successive races since his debut in the 125cc class at the 1996 Malaysian Grand Prix.
"We expect him to be here for seven days and we won't rush his recovery," Dr. Buzzi said. "We will continue to check his results and ensure we are following the correct recuperation procedures." 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2010-06-06-82152826_x.htm
 
 

The ANNOTICO Reports Can be Viewed (With Archives) on:
[Formerly Italy at St Louis]