It’s been a minute since the AMA hit the track. 3 weeks to be exact. That’s a long time in professional sport to be absent during the season. But this is the traditional Loretta Lynn’s break where the amateurs get to show their stuff at the ranch and the Pro’s get some much-needed R&R.
So what does a break in the action like this mean for the field? For a few, it was the best time to get some surgery done to fix issues they have been dealing with. Whilst still having plenty of time to fully recovery ready for Supercross Pre-Season in October.
Adam Cianciarulo is the big name that went that path. Alex Ray also has excited the series. Opting to have some work done on both wrists. Not always a good idea to get both hands worked on at the same time unless you have a stable relationship as bathroom 1 & 2’s can be tricky without your own hands to control and clean.
For others, the break is a time to recharge. Use the boat on the weekends whilst still putting in the laps during the week to ensure your fitness is maintained and your skills stay sharp. It can be difficult to not push too hard and lose focus in this time off from racing. Many an injury has occurred when the eyes come off the target of the next race when it’s not the next weekend. Justin Barcia and Michael Mosiman are falling into this category. Not a lot of details here yet but seems a head knock for Barcia so hopefully only a few weeks out for him.
For guys like Jeremy Martin, RJ Hampshire, Alex Martin, even Christian Craig to an extent. These guys have been carrying issues either into the season or from partway into the season. This time gives them the opportunity to further their fitness, rehab the injury further, or get back some of that testing time that they may have missed out on due to the limited riding time from the injury pre-MX Season.
For the two main injuries from Washougal, Colt Nichol, and Jalek Swoll. Not a whole lot of info from either party leading into this round. Colt has come out late and confirmed he won’t be racing Unadilla. Also, the last lap blowout that was Justin Cooper also has been quiet over the break. Justin Cooper has only really been posting pre-made sponsor adverts for Thor with their new gear release or in Jalek’s case throwbacks to Loretta’s. So we won’t know for sure how they are travelling health and fitness-wise until practice/qualifying on Saturday morning (Sunday Australia time). Something I will be looking at closely to see if there are some lingering effects.
Not too many rounds remaining so hopefully we can see limited injuries to the end to keep the field deep and the championship battle close in the 250s. I fear the 450s is already done for Dylan baring catastrophe.
Until next round moto fans.
As always, If your favorite rider is on this list, most likely they are seeing a doctor or been to the Emergency Department recently.
(David Hogan – @always.moto on Instagram)
This list has who we know has an injury. What that injury is, as well as when we expect them back at the races. Maybe some extras if you’re lucky!
If we have missed a rider or got an injury update wrong let us know. alwaysmoto2019@gmail.com
THE INJURY LIST – GOING INTO ROUND 8 – Unadilla:
Justin Barcia #51 – RedBull GasGas Troy Lee Designs (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Before Rnd 8 mid-week.
Injured What? Head Knock, and other bruising to chest and elbow.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 1-2 weeks pending passing the AMA concussion protocol.
Next race prediction – Possibly Budds Creek, More likely Iron Man in 2 wks.
Michael Mosiman #42 – RedBull GasGas Troy Lee Designs (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Before Rnd 8 mid-week.
Injured What? No details on this injury at the time of writing this piece.
Return to Riding Timeframe – To be confirmed once more is known about the injury.
Next race prediction – Iron Man MX?
Jalek Swoll #47 – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Rnd 7 Washougal 24/7/21
Injured What? Not certain but believe there was a head knock in his first turn crash.
Return to Riding Timeframe – If he did have a head knock. He would require 1-2 weeks pending passing the AMA concussion protocol.
Next race prediction – Unadilla this weekend is the expectation given the break between rounds.
Colt Nichol #64 – Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Rnd 7 Washougal 24/7/21
Injured What? Shoulder – Initial reports from Colt indicate only bruising to the shoulder.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 2-4wks pending depth of bruising and other tissue involvement that might appear once swelling and bruising resolves.
Next race prediction – Colt is out for Unadilla, potentially in for Budds but will review next week.
Adam Cianciarulo #9 – Monster Energy Kawasaki (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? December 2020. Re-aggravated in a crash at Millville
Injured What? Ulnar Nerve compression (Cubital Tunnel Syndrome)
Return to Riding Timeframe – Adam has had surgery just after Millville. Would expect him to be off the bike for 8-12wks. Putting him back on the bike around October 2021.
Next race prediction – Supercross 2022
Alex Ray #83 – SGB Maxxis Kawasaki (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? An old lingering injury
Injured What? Both Wrists.
Return to Riding Timeframe – Minimum 6 weeks from surgery date which was completed just after Millville.
Next race prediction – Supercross 2022
Freddie Noren #43 – Privateer KTM (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Before Rnd 7 at Washougal
Injured What? Knee – Fractured Metacarpal
Return to Riding Timeframe – Freddie had surgery on Monday after Washougal. Most likely out for 4wks. Would expect him to miss Unadilla and be back for round 8 or 9 at worst.
Next race prediction – Budds Creek Rnd 8 at best.
Nate Thrasher #91 – Monster Energy Star Yamaha (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Rnd 6 Millville 17/7/21
Injured What? Knee – Dislocated Shoulder
Return to Riding Timeframe – approx 3months. Nate has confirmed he had shoulder surgery to repair his labrum.
Next race prediction – Potentially out until East Coast SX 2022
Max Miller #604 – Privateer KTM (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Rnd 4 RedBud 3/7/21
Injured What? Knee – ACL tear, Medial Meniscus tear and bone bruising.
Return to Riding Timeframe – Approx 6months post repair. Max has had surgery on 16/7/21 and is on the road to recovery.
Next race prediction – Potentially East Coast SX if he is aiming to do Supercross in 2022.
Phil Nicoletti #715 – Motosport.com ClubMX Yamaha (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Re-Aggravated an old Injury in practice at RedBud on 3/7/21
Injured What? Knee – ACL tear, Medial and Lateral Meniscus tear
Return to Riding Timeframe – Approx 6months post repair. Phil had surgery Last week and is now in the early stages of recovery and rehab.
Next race prediction – Phil didn’t ride SX this year. So if he is on the same schedule we won’t see him again until Motocross starts up again in May 2022.
Henry Miller #70 – Privateer KTM (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? 23/5/21 during preparation for Outdoors initially tore the ACL. Had attempted to manage conservatively and return to racing at High Point. However, during practice/qualifying he has re-aggravated and has now undergone surgery. AlwaysMoto has confirmed Henry’s surgery went well on 30/6/2021 and he is on the road to recovery. Henry Miller has had a Patellar tendon graft used for the repair of his ACL.
Injured What? ACL tear and tibial plateau fracture.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 5-6months post ACL repair
Next race prediction – Supercross 2022 pending ability to get pre-season completed prior to January opener.
Zac Osborne #16 – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Prior to Daytona Supercross “March 2021”
Injured What? Disc injury (Reported to be herniation) to the lumbar region.
Return to Riding Timeframe – Therapy with Dr Keilman is continuing as per the updates on Instagram with very controlled rehab going on. Still expect him to be off the bike for a further 2-4wks. No rush to return for Zac other than October for Pre-Season SX testing.
Next race prediction – Supercross 2022.
Jeremy Smith #309 – SGB Maxxis Kawasaki (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Rnd 2 Thunder Valley – 5/6/21
Injured What? Fractured Collarbone
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6wks
Next race prediction – Rnd 8 Unadilla. AlwaysMoto has confirmed with Jeremy Unadilla will be his return to racing.
Jason Anderson #21 – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Mid Week prior to Rnd 2 of MX
Injured What? Fractured Hand and some teeth knocked out.
Return to Riding Timeframe – Missed about 6-7wks with recovery
Next race prediction – Should have been on track this weekend at Unadilla. But hearing talk of an ankle injury that required surgery recently and will keep him out until Supercross 2022. Jason may not be seen on a Husky again. The next time he is riding will most likely be on another brand.
Seth Hammaker #150 – Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Before Rnd 2 at Thunder Valley
Injured What? Reports of ongoing issues with his health. Seth has previously had issues with Epstein Barr (EBV) and this is a precautionary measure to manage his workload.
Return to Riding Timeframe – This one is light on info. Some word that he was out and about riding in Southern California for a few weeks but can’t confirm much for Seth’s absence.
Next race prediction – Will return this week at Unadilla.
Cameron Mcadoo #31 – Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (AMA SX/MX)
Injured When? Rnd 1 Pala – 29/5/21
Injured What? Knee ACL tear with an avulsion fracture. This is where the ligament tears a piece of bone with it. In this case off the tibial plateau.
Return to Riding Timeframe – Minimum 5months.
Next race prediction – Not until Supercross 2022 and likely the 250 coast that starts second.
