JUNE 12, 2010

Webber comforts Rossi in hospital

It was revealed that Mark Webber phoned Valentino Rossi when the MotoGP legend was still in Firenze's hospital, following his violent crash in practice for last weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

Mark Webber phoned Valentino Rossi when the MotoGP legend was still in Firenze's hospital, following his violent crash in practice for last weekend's Italian Grand Prix, to comfort him and give him strength for the lengthy recovery that lays ahead for the Italian. Webber knows how it feels to have a career-threatening accident, as 19 months ago he was involved in a road crash while taking part on a bicycle event in Australia, breaking his right leg and shoulder. He was able to recover in time to start the 2009 Formula One World Championship, but now admits it took him until the middle of the season to be fully fit.

The Italian rider revealed that Mark Webber had called him and was quite pleased with the words he had told him: "Mark Webber called me and he has had an exposed fracture of the right leg. He told me to be very patient and that I would have some moments of discomfort, but that in the end recovery was guaranteed. The positive thing is that the worst is past and that the two operations went well, so everything is OK."

The Australian is a huge MotoGP fan and tends to go and watch one or two Grand Prix live every season, when his schedule in F1 allows for it, so it was only natural for him to pass an encouraging message to Valentino Rossi.