ROME: Valentino Rossi has suffered slight liver and kidney lesions in a motocross accident, but the Italian MotoGP great is making “positive progress” and could be released from hospital on Friday, his Yamaha team said.

The 38-year-old nine-time world champion was admitted to hospital in Rimini after the accident at Mondavio in Pesaro Urbino on Thursday.

“Valentino will continue to receive pain relief over the next 12 hours and, over the course of the day, he will undergo routine diagnostic tests,” Yamaha said in a statement.

“If the results are positive, he may be discharged from the hospital within the day.”

Yamaha said Rossi had spent a quiet night in hospital and felt less pain in his chest and abdomen.

“The pain is the result of slight liver and kidney lesions that have not evolved into further complications,” the statement added.

Rossi crashed out of the French Grand Prix at Le Mans on the last lap last weekend handing victory to team-mate Maverick Vinales and lies third in the world championship standings.

It is not clear whether Rossi will be fit enough to take part in the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello next week.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2017