Italy’s Valentino Rossi, possibly the greatest MotoGP rider of all time, has been hospitalised after a motocross/enduro bike accident, with reports suggesting he has broken his right leg.

The Italian news channels have said that Rossi sustained the injury to both the tibia and fibula.

Rossi is currently in Urbino Hospital, and is planned to have surgery on Friday. It is understood that he was riding an enduro bike on a downhill section when the accident occurred.

Rossi’s father Graziano said, “Valentino is not optimistic. They fear there is a fracture. To do the radiograph they had to cut the boot, and Valentino told me he feels very bad.”

His Yamaha team issued this statement: “Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team rider Valentino Rossi was involved in an accident, during a training activity close to his hometown, on Thursday, August 31st. The 38-year-old Italian rider was taken to the ‘Ospedale Civile di Urbino’ for a check-up. A further medical bulletin will be issued in due course.”

Rossi had already sustained one motocross accident this year, suffering minor chest injuries in May.

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