Since I started racing in 2006, I’ve been pretty lucky to not have any major injuries. I’ve always known in the back of my mind it was just a matter of time. After all, moto is a dangerous sport with fairly high risks.
Last Saturday, fate finally caught up to me and delivered my first major injury. A group of us were riding our normal loop in Aztec, NM and while riding into a slickrock section, my rear wheel kicked sideways and I came down hard on my left knee. While it hurt, I was able to get up pretty quick and push the bike off the trail. It wasn’t until I tried to lift my foot on the peg, when I realized I couldn’t bend my knee. I knew right away something was broken, so a few of us headed back to the truck to load up and head to the hospital.
Sure enough, after x-rays and a CT scan, results showed a “fractured tibial plateau.” Basically, I fractured the top of my tibia at the knee. The initial consensus was that I was going to need surgery. However, after seeing the orthopedic surgeon, he told me I would be better off letting the bone heal on it’s own. Thank god…
Now I’m just in a junky brace and on crutches for the next six to eight weeks. Bummer, but it could have been much worse. I’m relegated to the couch now, playing video games and watching re-runs of supercross. At least it’s the off-season.
I’m hoping to be healed up and strong enough to race the first round of the Webe series in April. It may be a stretch, but it gives me something to shoot for.
Happy trails – Chris
