Andrea Dovizioso hospitalised, needs surgery after MX crash

Ducati factory rider Andrea Dovizioso has been taken to hospital to undergo immediate surgery on his collarbone after injuring himself in a heavy crash during a motocross race in Italy.

The Italian – who more than most in MotoGP focuses his training on MX riding - was competing in in Faenza with Ducati’s blessing as part of an event arranged for the Emilia-Romagna regional MX championships.

However, he crashed his motorcycle on landing from a jump, the subsequent impact on his left collarbone necessitating a trip to the local Forli hospital.

Ducati has now confirmed Dovizioso has consulted with specialist Prof. Porcellini and has decided to undergo surgery straight away in Modena to give him the best opportunity to be fit in time for the opening round now just three weeks away on July 19.

While Dovizioso will no doubt be confident he will be fit in time for the opening rounds of the season, the need for surgery will almost certainly set him back in the key final weeks of preparation for the delayed 2020 MotoGP season.

Moreover, any injury will likely be felt more keenly this season due to the rapid succession of races preventing hurt riders from getting the rest they need in between.

Though Dovizioso is the latest in a long line of riders to injure themselves while riding in MX – following on from Maverick Vinales back in March – the Italian is allowed by Ducati to train and enter races as he firmly believes it improves his MotoGP riding.

After suffering a crash during a motocross race in Faenza, @andreadovizioso has sustained a left collarbone injury. After consultation with Prof. Porcellini, Dovi has decided to proceed with surgery this evening in Modena to be fit in time for the start of the 2020 @motogp season pic.twitter.com/3xZdNxwxDP

— Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse) June 28, 2020