Australia's Mackenzie Tricker was on track for a great result at round two of the Women's AMA MX Triple challenge at High Point on the weekend when disaster struck with just over a lap remaining in the opening moto.
Tricker was in a race winning position late during the opening moto when a heartbreaking injury left her with no choice but to curise to the finish line for a third place finish before being ruled out of the second moto and putting an end to her dreams of winning the Women's national championship in 2013.
"The weekend at High Point started great." Tricker explained. "It was extremely muddy in qualifying, though I was able to qualify with the second fastest time in both sessions. I was feeling really good and was ready for the first moto.
"I got an ok start, my reaction wasn't that great but I managed to pull out behind Jessica Patterson in second and then passed her for the lead a few corners later. She was right on my tale for 3 laps and a few mistakes on my behalf allowed her by.
"She led for 2 laps and then I was able to pass her back and pull a nice gap of maybe 3-5 seconds." Tricker continued. "I felt so good and I tipped it in to rut and the rut pushed out and my knee caught the ground really hard.
"I tried to breathe and regroup and as I hit the next jump my knee gave way. I got the white flag and did everything I possibly could to keep the lead but not being able to jump any jumps because my knee kept giving way allowed Patterson to pass me with half a lap to go and Sayaka Kanashiro to pass me with a corner to go.
"The asterisk medical crew took me Straight in and checked my knee out and did some quick scans and they diagnosed a tear in my ACL. I geared up to try and ride the next moto and just riding through the pits I was in pain so we sat the 2nd moto out.
Tricker will undergo scans early this week and will make a decision on her racing future when the full extent of her injury is known.
"I am so gutted right now I was on such a high and I worked so hard after I let myself down at round one at Hangtown and it showed.
"I have a doctor Appointment first thing Monday morning and I'll know more." Tricker explained.
"I have 3 more Major races until I head home in August so if the damage is not worse then we think i will try and nurse my knee until then and get it fixed when I come home I will do that," she concluded.
Top Image: Tricker in action (File)
