ALCANIZ, Spain (AFP) — Seven-time premier class world champion Valentino Rossi was taken to hospital after suffering concussion in crashing out of the Aragon Grand Prix yesterday.

The Italian had come into the race full of confidence after winning last time out in San Marino, but any chance of a repeat performance ended early on as he ran wide onto the grass at the rain-hit Motorland track and was thrown from his bike.

The bike narrowly missed the prone 35-year-old as it came to ground and Yamaha team doctor Michele Zasa is confident Rossi will suffer no serious ill effects.

“Valentino suffered a concussion with a suspected loss of consciousness,” Zasa said in a team statement.

“From a neurological point of view he has recovered very well. He was taken to hospital in Alcaniz to make a further check, in particular a CT scan of the skull that has ruled out any bleeding in the brain.

“As a precaution he will be observed in the coming hours, but there are no special reasons for concern.”

The race was won by Rossi’s Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo, cutting Rossi’s lead over Lorenzo in third place in the world championship standings to just 12 points with four races of the season remaining.

Dani Pedrosa’s 14th placed finish moved the Spaniard just three points ahead of Rossi in second place in the overall standings, but Spaniard Marc Marquez is well set for back-to-back world titles as he extended his lead over Honda teammate Pedrosa to 75 points.