Moto2: Injured Simoncelli could miss Qatar

The Italian broke his right scaphoid after he crashed his motocross bike while training in Italy.

"It was mid-afternoon: I went a bit wide and hit a bump, the rear wheel lost grip and I was thrown upwards before landing on my right hand," Simoncelli told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I immediately realized I hurt myself. We immediately went to the hospital, but the first two X-rays didn't show anything. I thought it was impossible, and indeed a new view highlighted a mildly-displaced crack in the scaphoid."

The Gilera rider said he will travel to Qatar this weekend, but he is unsure if he will be able to race.

"Inside my head there is a will to race in Qatar, and that's my objective," he said. "Last year I didn't score any points there but went on to win the title, however I want to try not to miss the race.

"Obviously if that means putting in danger the future and maybe having trouble for three months, then I won't take those risks. But I'll be in Qatar, to try to race."

MotoGP doctor Claudio Costa also cast doubt about Simoncelli's presence in Qatar.

"The fracture is important and the scaphoid is a delicate area, because that bone often suffers vascular problems," he said. "Nowadays there is the possibility of having less traumatic treatments than the traditional surgery: he will probably get a screw inserted without the need of opening the wrist.

"Many riders in the past raced with a broken scaphoid, with or without surgery. Marco's fracture is important, however, because of the race being so close time-wise."