Valentino Rossi’s participation in his home grand prix remains uncertain as he continues to suffer ‘severe’ pain from a motocross crash the week prior.
Rossi was hospitalised after crashing a motocross bike in Italy on Thursday 25 May (local time), suffering mild thoracic and abdominal trauma.
The Italian spent the evening in the Ospedale Infermi in Rimini before being released the following evening.
There was no official word at the time as to Rossi’s fitness to ride in the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, and the 38-year-old admits that he is still no certainty to race.
Rossi is set to be subjected to a medical examination on the Thursday eve of the race weekend, but will still wait until he has ridden in Friday practice to truly assess his fitness.
“Unfortunately, I crashed while I was training on a motocross bike,” said the Movistar Yamaha rider.
“The pain in the abdomen and in the chest is still severe.
“Fortunately, my condition is improving day by day and this allows me to think a bit more positively about the Mugello weekend.
“My desire to be at the start of the Italian GP is so strong and I’m working on recovering as soon as possible.
“It will not be easy but I still have a few days to continue the treatment.
“On Thursday I will have to do the medical check-up to get the OK to go on the track.
“If all is well, I will ride my YZR-M1 on Friday to really understand my condition. I will do my best to be on track Sunday, for sure.”
Meanwhile, Jack Miller is confident of his own physical state despite a frightening crash during practice for the French Grand Prix a fortnight earlier.
Miller went on to qualify his Marc VDS Honda and raced to a creditable eighth position, but has since undergone further examinations to ensure that he is fit to race in Italy.
“As soon as I got home from Le Mans I had a scan on the hand and the knee just to make sure there was nothing broken and since then I’ve been working with the physiotherapist to reduce the swelling in both,” said the 22-year-old.
“I’ve been doing a lot of cycling this week, but I also managed to get out on the supermotard and had no problems with the hand or the knee, so it’s looking good for the weekend ahead.”
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