Bouncing back
By TMX Archives on 15th May 03
I was sitting by the side of the track watching my CAS Honda cartwheel towards me - like a rabbit caught in car headlights just waiting to get run over.Five minutes earlier I was on the startline pondering over my lines going into SO THERE I was sitting by the side of the track watching my CAS Honda cartwheel towards me - like a rabbit caught in car headlights just waiting to get run over.Five minutes earlier I was on the startline pondering over my lines going into the first corner, a fast sweeping left and then a right. I felt good about the race and was looking forward to a top finish in the Dutch sand. I got a good start, then it all went tits-up. Beirer pushed Smets wide so I re-adjusted my line to sweep around everyone in the second corner. A cunning plan I thought but I didn't account for an over-enthusiastic Italian crashing right in front of me - I went down hard!My bike bounced down the track and hit me but the real damage had already been done. I immediately wanted to puke with the pain - I knew that this wasn't going to be good. The following few days were less than fun. I felt dizzy, sick and swollen and was well and truly logged on to www.realpain.comAll was revealed following a trip to the specialist in Belfast - my AC joint had popped out because I'd ripped all the ligaments that hold your shoulder in place. Talk of an operation was quickly dismissed for a number of reasons. Not being able to ride a bike for at least three months being the main one.On the Wednesday after the crash I knew that there was no way I could race Lyng, I had cortisone injections but couldn't move my arm. Intensive laser treatment and ultrasound started to get some movement back into my shoulder but nowhere near enough to race so I decided to take a break until the German GP at Teutschenthal.In the week before the GP I rode my Honda at my local track for 10 minutes and felt sore and very uneasy but, knowing that I'd only beat myself up if I didn't try to salvage a few points, the decision was made to go and try my best.Qualifying was a problem. Imagine you're concentrating really hard to do something and someone keeps sticking a needle in your neck. The pain I could deal with but the lapses in concentration were worrying me - one small mistake and a big crash could follow.When the race came around on Sunday morning I was fired up and ready to go and what a start I got! Honda power and Bridgestone rubber catapulted me to the front of the pack but evasive action due to a large rock on my line allowed Pichon and Jorgensen past. Boy that Yogi's a mobile roadblock - it's great when he's behind you but mustard to get past. When I finally took him I closed Pichon down and made a few mistakes that cost me time but on each occasion I was able to make the ground back quite easily.I started to wonder if my shoulder would hold up for the race distance and my hands started to burst inside my gloves despite careful bandaging. Twice my shoulder got stretched as I fought for control around the fast, slick German circuit. I like the place and usually ride well there - unfortunately so do a lot of other riders.So second in the GP and only a couple of seconds down on Pichon after 40 minutes of racing tells me that if I can get back to 100 per cent fitness there's no reason why I shouldn't be on the top of a GP podium.Hawkstone Park will be a tough race for me and by the time you read this the race will have been run. Of course I want to win all three motos but it will be hard as riding sand means a lot of standing up with extended arms and that'll definitely hurt.As for the next GP, it's off to Italy which gives me a full month to get my body in shape for a real run at Pichon. I'll beat him one day - and I'm planning on it being sooner rather than later. There's rumours that Josh Coppins will make his return in Italy which will be good for the team and Yoshi is riding great and now holds 10th in the MXGP series. CAS are on the way back so watch out world!I was really looking forward to doing the Belfast Marathon on May Day. Unfortunately I was wrecked from the GP and unable to attend this year - never mind, there'll be other times. Thanks to everyone for all the support that I received after my accident - I hope to give you all a victory real soon. Until next month, take care.Words by Gordon Crockard Photo by Alex Hodgkinson