Lorenzo undergoes hospital checks for hand injury

New Repsol Honda rider Jorge Lorenzo has been taken to hospital in Verona suffering with hand pains and has undergone checks on a potential scaphoid injury.

The five-time world champion is expected to be in Madrid this Wednesday (January 23rd) for the 2019 Repsol Honda MotoGP team launch alongside Marc Marquez, but on Saturday afternoon was taken to Pederzoli Hospital near Lake Garda after suffering with hand pains.

According to initial reports from Corriere del Veneto, Lorenzo was in hospital for two hours accompanied by a man and a woman but details on any potential injury or the cause for the hospital visit remain unclear.

Further reports from Sky Sports Italia have quoted Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta who speculated a scaphoid injury while the Spanish rider is set to undergo further medical checks in Barcelona.

“Today I got the news, I think the scaphoid broke, but I have not talked to them [Honda] yet,” Ezpeleta said.

When asked for a comment by Crash.net, a Repsol Honda spokesman confirmed Lorenzo had attended hospital with further details to be released later.

Lorenzo is set to take part in the Repsol Honda team launch this week, where he will be officially unveiled by the team following his switch from Ducati this winter, along with reigning MotoGP world champion Marquez who is still completing rehabilitation following shoulder surgery in December.

Lorenzo suffered a left wrist fracture which required minor surgery after his high-side crash during practice at the Thailand MotoGP round in October, ruling him out of four races, but he did return to action for his last Ducati appearance at the Valencia season finale.

Despite pain from his wrist injury, Lorenzo also completed both two-day post-season tests for Repsol Honda at Valencia and Jerez in November.