Well, it’s been quite a while since I updated my blog and I do apologise for that. Fact is there are number of reasons and I’d like to explain.
Firstly, for the last three weeks I have been recuperating from a serious accident. On the 21st September my brother and I did Clyde Ride and, whilst returning from it I was unfortunate to run over a piece of firewood that had fallen out of someone’s trailer. I was pitched off the bike and skidded across the road until I came to a stop on the wrong side of the road, unconscious and injured. I do not remember any details from some 20 minutes before this until I woke up in St George Hospital in Sydney some hours later.
I have a broken left collarbone (in three places) and 7 broken ribs on the left side. I also had a punctured lung which has healed itself.
Surgery was not required but a long period of convalescence will be required while all the broken bones heal. The bike is badly damaged and is likely to be written off. Update: it has been written off
Those of you who have experienced similar injuries will know how painful and debilitating they can be and I am fortunate that I have an extraordinary wife who is caring for me and many wonderful friends who are assisting. I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.
As a result I have come to the painful decision to stop riding. It is a little more than 50 years since I started and I consider that I have had a good innings. But, in all conscience, I feel that I cannot put my wife and family through this trauma again and that their needs must now come first. I am now over 75 years old and it’s time.
This is not to say that my interest in motorcycles and motorcycle racing will cease, it’s just that my interest will become academic rather than practical.
So, thank you for your interest and your concern it means more to me than I can say but hang in with me because I will still have plenty to say.
This weekend is the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island. With Martin and Bagnaia separated by only a handful of points they are the only riders who can probably win the title but stranger things have happened. Bastianini and Marquez are mathematical possibilities but luck will have to go their way. With the races in our time zone, it’s going to be a frantic weekend, as they used to say in the ad, “Warm the set and cool the tinnies”
The AGP turned out to be the thriller that we were anticipating and the win by Marquez from down in 13th place was astonishing. Till next time.
