Rossi crashes in testing at Sepang

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi crashed on the opening day of pre-season testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, as he returned from a long layoff with a fractured hand.

Rossi broke his right hand in three places during a crash at the Valencia Grand Prix in November.

He came to grief on his new 2008 YR-M1 at the entry of the sharp second turn on his 20th lap. His team explained that the front wheel gave in.

"As he rode slowly to the pits (Rossi) was seen holding his left hand with the new machine badly dented on the right side," Fiat Yamaha reported.

Rossi, who won five world titles in a row from 2001-2005, has been less successful over the past two seasons, seeing the crown go to American Nicky Hayden in 2006 and Australian Casey Stoner last year.

His new team-mate Jorge Lorenzo also crashed on a dismal day for Fiat Yamaha. Rossi clocked the eighth fastest time of two minutes 3.295 seconds while Lorenzo was fifth fastest with two minutes 2.871 seconds.

Stoner went out on the morning practice run but did not finish the lap. Honda's Dani Pedrosa was fastest in two minutes 1.864 seconds despite also crashing at turn one.

The Sepang tests will run for three days until Thursday. Afterwards they will shift to Phillip Island in Melbourne before returning to Sepang on February 4-6 for a second round of testing. E-mail to a friend