Crutchlow suffers finger injury but plans to race

LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow has injured a tendon on the index finger of his left hand while training in Italy. The British rider was hospitalized with a "lesion of the extensor tendon of the second finger" which was subsequently sutured.

Crutchlow remains hopeful of racing this weekend at Misano, with the aid of a splint to immobilize the finger.

"Unfortunately, I sliced my finger with a knife yesterday and it severed the tendon on my left index finger," explained Crutchlow. "I slept on it, but as the bleeding continued this morning, I went to the Emergency Room at Pistoia Hospital, where I was examined by Dr. Riccardo Simonti who discovered that the tendon was severed. I then had an operation on my finger to re-attach the tendon and then stitch it all back up.

"I was taken care of very well at the hospital – they did a good job. Since then I visited a hand specialist in Parma who made me a splint for the finger to give me every opportunity to ride at my best this weekend for the San Marino GP. I am sure it will be difficult, but I will try 100 percent as always. Let's see how it goes."