Rossi Breaks Finger During GP12 Test

Valentino Rossi is not having his best year. The multiple GP Champion has yet to find the podium this season and now the "Doctor" will have to fight through a broken finger during the final three rounds of the 2011 season.

Rossi was testing out the new Ducati GP12 at Jerez on Sunday when he crashed into the gravel. Rossi suffered a hairline fracture in his left pinkie during the crash.

From a press release:

Valentino Rossi's fall in the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday was not without consequences, although the initial examination suggested otherwise. Due to the severity of the pain and swelling in his left hand, the Italian on Tuesday underwent additional X-rays that revealed a hairline fracture at the arthrodesis of the first and second phalanx (performed following a fall at Assen in 1995) of the pinky finger on his left hand.

But despite the break, Valentino Rossi will be racing in Australia next week.

Ducati will also get the chance to collect more data on the GP12. Nicky Hayden is scheduled to ride the new Ducati today at Jerez.