It seems some people can take a big crash better than others. Eli Tomac after last week’s wild get-off at Anaheim 2, came into Houston with a little question mark over fitness and mental space.
The heat race loss to Chase Sexton only added to those question marks. But somehow after another red flag for 2023. Eli managed to mentally outdo Chase. Whilst proving his fitness post-crash was never in doubt. For Eli, It’s full steam ahead. I suspect now that unless Chase or Cooper Webb can go on a winning streak. I feel Eli has this title on lock and only a major mistake or injury can derail this season for him.
The red flag in the 450 class was an unfortunate crash for Dylan Ferrandis. He managed to jump onto the back of Ken Roczens bike and fall awkwardly. Resulting in a concussion. Watching the coverage he was on the ground for some time and reports from the stadium indicate he was out for a few minutes. He will now be in the AMA concussion protocol this is a minimum time frame of 5 days for the return to ride program. But that can only commence once his treating doctor permits him to start. In many cases, riders can be ready to race the following weekend. No confirmation on what phase Dylan is at currently but he has already indicated he won’t be in Tampa this week. The earliest he will be back is the following week at the make-up date for Oakland.
In the 250 Class, it was all Hunter Lawrence once he found his way back onto the track after a close call with Rookie Tom Vialle.
But news this week from the 250’s that another Rookie, Nick Romano, who had already been forced out of the East Coast Opener in Houston with an AC joint sprain earlier this year. Confirmed a second injury last week to his knee that will likely see him sit out all of 2023 whilst he recovers from an ACL and Medial Meniscus repair.
As much as I say that #injuriesareapartofmoto and that #injuriessuck. The fill-in rider does benefit from time to time. In this instance news this week dropped that Aussie Matt Moss will be filling in at BarX Suzuki for the remaining Supercross series as a result of Carson Mumford moving teams and Derek Drake’s injury. Fingers Crossed for a productive series for Mossy. He has been having somewhat of a resurgence in Supercross since WSX commenced end of last year.
In late news that we don’t have all the details confirmed yet. There may be another Pro Circuit rider on the injury list. But wait and see if this is confirmed on our social media posts later this weekend.
Our ongoing tracking of injuries in 2023 continues. In 2022, we averaged 3.8 injuries per round, and in 2021 that was 3.7. Continuing on with this number review after 4 rounds we are at 10.8 injuries per round.
A reminder that the AlwaysMoto Fantasy league game continues. For Aussie Readers, if you want to join the now-closed league. Please send me a DM for a special entry to the league.
Remember to stay up to date on all the injury news via our social feeds @always.moto on Instagram. Check out more in-depth conversations on all the injuries in our sport on the AlwaysMoto podcast on your favourite podcast app or here on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1LEv4IMDJzF2ugEwRQwmgf
See you next round Moto fans.
#injuriesareapartofmoto
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
Injured Riders List – Round 6
Dylan Ferrandis #14 – Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
Injured When? Houston
Injured What? Concussion
Return to Riding Timeframe – Will depend on him passing the AMA concussion protocol 1-2wks
Next race prediction – Oakland for Round 2 (Round 6 with the rejig of the schedule).
Preston Kilroy #71 – ClubMX Yamaha
Injured When? Houston
Injured What? Broke both wrists
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-8 weeks minimum. But maybe longer pending the need for surgery and further details of the injury.
Next race prediction – Potentially out until Outdoors in late May 2023.
Nick Romano #54 – Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
Injured When? Pre-Season – January 3rd.
Injured What? Unclear
Return to Riding Timeframe – Unclear
Next race prediction – Unclear, maybe Round 7 in Arlington
Ryder Floyd #296 – Privateer Yamaha
Injured When? Pre-season – Attempted to race Houston but was unable to get through the day.
Injured What? No details are available at the time of this being published
Return to Riding Timeframe – 1-2wks
Next race prediction – Arlington for Round 7
Jared Lesher #412 – Privateer Yamaha
Injured When? Houston
Injured What? No specific details are available but he hit his chest on the crossbar during a crash in the whoops during Qualifying.
Return to Riding Timeframe – around the 1week mark
Next race prediction – As per his social media post he will be at Tampa this weekend.
Deven Raper #447 – Privateer Kawasaki
Injured When? Pre-Season – But aggravated a Nerve injury in Houston during a hard crash
Injured What? Nerve injury in his right arm
Return to Riding Timeframe – Deven has indicated he is taking 2 weeks off to recover and hopes to be back for his hometown race
Next race prediction – Round 7 in Arlington
Doc Smith #464 – Privateer GasGas
Injured When? Houston
Injured What? Banged up his shoulder from a crash in the whoops during qualifying
Return to Riding Timeframe – Doc confirmed he is in for Tampa this weekend. A Little weak but not too bad.
Next race prediction – Tampa
TJ Albright #116 – Privateer Yamaha
Injured When? Pre-season for East Coast 1/2/23
Injured What? No details are available at the time of this being published
Return to Riding Timeframe – TJ’s update indicates he will be out for a few weeks.
Next race prediction – Round 13 in Atlanta when East Coast SX comes back from a West coast swing.
Cameron Mcadoo #48 – Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Injured When? Anaheim 2
Injured What? Left arm bruising
Return to Riding Timeframe – 1-2 weeks
Next race prediction – Oakland for the next West coast SX race
Malcolm Stewart #27 – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
Injured When? Training incident.
Injured What? Knee – details are limited but he is booked for surgery that has been completed this week.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6 months pending surgical details.
Next race prediction – unclear but likely out for Supercross at a minimum.
Jalek Swoll #31 – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
Injured When? Training incident.
Injured What? Spiral Fracture of Left Humerus
Return to Riding Timeframe – 8-12 weeks
Next race prediction – Sometime after round 13 at the earliest.
Jo Shimoda #30 – Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Injured When? Training incident.
Injured What? Collarbone fracture.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6 weeks
Next race prediction – Maybe Atlanta for round 13 pending recovery progress
Seth Hammaker #35 – Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Injured When? Training incident.
Injured What? Wrist injury.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6 weeks
Next race prediction – Maybe Atlanta for round 13 pending recovery progress
Derek Drake #53 – BarX Suzuki
Injured When? San Diego
Injured What? Fracture Left Humeral Head/Neck.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-8 weeks pending surgical recovery initially.
Next race prediction – May be ready to go for the West Coast round at Seattle in late March.
Marvin Musquin #25 – RedBull KTM
Injured When? Mid-week prior to San Diego
Injured What? Wrist. But details are limited still!
Return to Riding Timeframe – Unknown, pending the outcome of further scans.
Next race prediction – Unclear at the time of writing this.
Austin Forkner #55 – Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Injured When? Anaheim 1
Injured What? Right Knee and Left Hand. The Right knee is the main issue. ACL Tear, Partial tears to PCL and MCL ligaments. Both Medial and Lateral Meniscus tears and a tibial Plateau fracture.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-9 months pending graft type used for ACL repair
Next race prediction – Unclear at this time. Likely not be until 2024 pending how early recovery post-op goes.
Wilson Todd #102 – FirePower Honda
Injured When? San Diego
Injured What? Thumb Laceration
Return to Riding Timeframe – 1-week
Next race prediction – Missed A2 but expect him to be back for Oakland (next West CCoast round
Luis Macias #259 – The Privateer Paddock
Injured When? Anaheim 1
Injured What? Broken Ribs, Lacerated Lung and Pneumothorax
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6 weeks
Next race prediction – Somewhere around Round 8 at Daytona
Ryder DiFrancesco #75 – Monster Energy Pro Circuit
Injured When? Training
Injured What? Left Thumb, Avulsion fracture. This is where the ligament is pulled away from the bone with a piece of bone still attached to the Ligament. Ryder had surgery 2 days after the injury.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-8 weeks
Next race prediction – Pro Motocross Opener – Late May 2023
Scott Meshy #411 – Privateer
Injured When? Anaheim 1
Injured What? Right Hand, Two metacarpals
Return to Riding Timeframe – 4-6 weeks
Next race prediction – Rnd 7-8 in Arlington or Daytona
Justin Rodbell #70 – Privateer
Injured When? Pre-Season
Injured What? Torn Achilles Tendon. AlwaysMoto checked in with Justin just a few days after he had surgery to repair the tear. Justin has a long road ahead with the recovery.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-9 months
Next race prediction – Unclear at this early stage of recovery for this injury.
Brandon Hartranft #37 – HEP Twisted Tea Suzuki
Injured When? Pre-Season
Injured What? Multiple injuries. L1-2 Endplate fractures, L3-4 Transverse process fractures, L1-3 Spinous processes, Left Hip dislocation, Multiple rib fractures, right scapular fracture, Right hemothorax (Lung injury).
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-12 months
Next race prediction – Unclear at this early stage of recovery for these injuries.
Kyle Greeson #204 – Privateer
Injured When? Pre-Season
Injured What? L3 Burst Fracture
Return to Riding Timeframe – 3Months +
Next race prediction – Pending recovery May be able to race MX in Late May 2023.
Vince Friese #39 – Motoconcepts Honda
Injured When? Pre-Season
Injured What? The Team has been very non-specific and lacks details on the injury for Vince. Unconfirmed reports of an Achilles injury from the A1 pits as he was in a moon boot.
Return to Riding Timeframe – Unknown
Next race prediction – Unknown – Give me a call or an email back Tony Alessi!
Still waiting for something Tony???
