World champion Valentino Rossi will have intensive treatment on his neck after he crashed during qualifying for the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island on Saturday.
Rossi, who wrapped up his fifth MotoGP title and sixth premier class world championship last week in Japan, fell heavily on the gravel after riding off the course and on to the grass with about 15 minutes remaining in Saturday’s qualifying session.
Slight whiplash and damage to his neck muscles were diagnosed by Dr. Claudio Costa from the Clinica Mobile, and Team Manager Davide Brivio also revealed afterwards that Rossi had understandably picked up a headache in the incident.
‘The worst part will be tomorrow morning I think,’ said Brivio. ‘Valentino is receiving massages and taking pills for his headache, and we’ll see how the night goes for how his condition is. We always leave these kinds of decision to the rider.’
Rossi, 29, who has not won in Australia for the last two years, will now have to start off the fourth row of the grid in the Phillip Island GP with Australian Casey Stoner favorite to repeat his 2007 race win off pole position.
“I was pushing a lot with the qualifying tyre but unfortunately I went too wide at turn two and I came on to the grass on the exit,” Rossi said.
“I thought I could take the bike back on to the track but as soon as I touched the muddy grass I lost control and I couldn’t stop it.
“Then I bumped my head and neck pretty hard when I landed in the gravel.”
“Tomorrow I am sure I will feel a lot better. We have good tyres and a good set-up so I will try to ride a good race.”
The last time Rossi missed starting off the front row in Australia was back in 2002, when he qualified seventh and came through to win the race.
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