Middleboro- A Bad Day 06/27/10

This past Sunday’s race at Middleboro was probably one of the more challenging days of my racing career. I was a bit nervous and uptight since Monday. I was uptight because I knew my mom and dad, and my oldest sister, and my two nieces, and two of my closest friends would be there to spectate. I was concerned because the last thing about motocross that mom and dad remembered was my awful crash at a track up in Maine that caused me to crush my right heel bone. That was about 10 years ago. And Sunday would be the first race that they would be brave enough to go and watch me race.

So to say, I was nervous, I think that would actually be an understatement. I was almost sick to my stomach to know that of all days, today just had to go really well. My first two motos were great. I got 1^st in one class and 7^th in the other. They saw both of them and were very happy. Then came the second half…

The gate drops and I had a beautiful start right out in front with another racer to my left. We both approach a large spectator table-top jump (right in front of where my parents were sitting) and then catastrophe strikes. Although I hit the jump straight on, the guy to my left hits it at an angle pointed at me! We make contact in mid-air and we landed, my front tire touched his rear tire and then it was all over. We crashed hard and I blacked out. I hit my head so hard on the dirt it fractured my helmet. I cracked my chest protector, my goggles, and ended up taking a chunk out of my Asterisk knee braces.

So when the dust settled, I stood up and saw stars. My mom and dad were yelling to see if I was okay, which I turned to my dad and gave him the thumbs up. I was in a lot of pain but got back on the bike and tried to finish the race. Unfortunately my clutch lever was meshed into the bars and I was forced to pull off the track.

I learned a lot that day. I learned that it really pays to have all the protective gear you can get. The gear I was wearing- my Leatt brace, my knee braces, my HRP chest protector, my Arai helmet, and my Tech 10’s saved my ass! I am very grateful to those companies who developed outstanding products that allowed a guy like me to sustain a crash like this and be able to walk away.

As for mom and dad, they actually dealt with the whole situation pretty well. They felt kind of bad, but knew I was okay and that this was just a freak accident. I on the other hand felt good that I wasn’t badly hurt, but felt really bad that of all days, they had to see me crash. I really wanted to put on a stellar show and felt as though I failed. But, I’m strong and I’ll get over it. That which does not kill me makes me stronger.

See you Sunday,

Patrick

#176