Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi crashed on Thursday during practice for the Assen TT race and was taken to a hospital with reportedly minor injuries.
The 27-year-old Italian fell off his Yamaha during the sixth lap of his first practice session, said Assen spokesperson William Lute.
He flipped over several times on the gravel.
Lute said Rossi was returning to the track from the hospital about two hours after the accident, and that the injury appeared to be ”not as serious as it looked at first”.
TTe MotoGP website said that Rossi was ”diagnosed with chest contusions, hairline fractures to the right hand and left ankle and a haematoma on his right elbow” at Assen hospital.
Lute said, however, that Rossi will wear bandages to practice again on Thursday afternoon.
It was unclear why Rossi lost control. He may have given too much throttle going into a turn, or there may have been a technical failure, Lute said.
It was the first time Rossi had been on the track since a major renovation — it was shortened by 1 500m to make it 4,5km — was completed in April.
The Assen track — at 6km — had been the longest and fastest on the circuit. Located next to a nature reserve, it was under environmental restrictions in which the northern loop was allowed to be used only six days a year, Lute said.
He said the work on the track appeared to have nothing to do with Rossi’s accident.
Rossi was seeking his third victory in three weeks after winning last Sunday’s Catalunya Grand Prix in Barcelona, Spain, and the Italian Grand Prix in Scarperia the previous week.
He had complained that the tight scheduling of races means injured riders miss several races. He also has said the schedule means riders are tired, more prone to lose concentration with more accidents resulting.
Rossi won the MotoGP event at the Dutch TT in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
He also won the 125cc event in 1997 and the 250cc race in 1998.
Rossi was preparing for Friday’s qualifying round. The race is on Saturday. — Sapa-AP