Valentino Rossi in high spirits after operation on broken leg | Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi suffered a compound fracture of his right shin after crashing in practice. Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters
• Italian’s only request to doctors is for room with a TV
• Rider expected to leave hospital in 10 days
Press Association
14 years old
Valentino Rossi is “recovering well” and was in good spirits yesterday, joking about with the press following an operation on a broken leg suffered in practice for today’s Italian MotoGP at Mugello.
Rossi is expected to be out for up to five months after surgery on a fracture to his right shin and fibula, an injury that put paid to his chances of retaining his title.
“It was an ugly crash but my morale is high, in part because I’ve realised I get on well with morphine,” the Italian joked in a telephone interview with Mediaset television before today’s race.
“The operation went well and they are treating me like one of the family. It’ll take time [to recover] but the important thing is that I’ll be able to return at 100%.”
He said the accident looked ugly when he saw it on television, but added that it was “uglier from the bike”.
“I was afraid, but I’m quite well now,” he said from his hospital bed in Florence, before making another quip that he hoped no one won Sunday’s race so he is does not lose ground in the title race.
Dr Roberto Buzzi, who performed the surgery at the Centro Traumatologico Ortopedico in Florence, said the 31-year-old Fiat Yamaha rider was in surgery for two and a half hours yesterday afternoon after being transferred to hospital by helicopter.
“Valentino is recovering well following yesterday’s operation and his morale seems to be high in the circumstances,” said Buzzi. “Tomorrow we will wash and stitch the wound.”
“He has been moved to a more normal room in the hospital and the only requests he has made are for peace and quiet, privacy and a television on which to watch today’s race,” Buzzi added.
Rossi’s bid to retain the world title has been ended by the injury which could see him sidelined for up to five months. His absence at Mugello marks the first time the Italian has missed a race in his MotoGP career.
A linchpin with four screws was applied to the break during the procedure and Buzzi said Rossi could expect to leave hospital in a little over a week. “We are confident that Valentino will be able to leave the hospital in a week to 10 days, able to put weight on the leg with the
aid of crutches,” he said.
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