While I was away on my Spain tour I heard about this awful crash that Guy Martin was involved in at the Ulster GP and this crash had put him in hospital. It has not put Guy Martin off racing but he is unsure where he will be racing in 2016.
If you have read his autobiography you will know that crashing does not scare him. But Guy Martin broke five vertebrae and he admits that he is very surprised that he is walking two days after the crash. But not only that Guy is back at work… he is finding it tough though but still what a legend.
“I’ve been back at work a while, but I’m struggling with everything,” Martin confessed. “Sharon, my other half, thought I was an idiot for trying to go back to work so soon, but I’d spent nearly a week at home and I had to do something. Now she admits that me going to work has moved me on loads, mentally and physically. There’s no better physio than working on trucks and I know when I’m doing too much, I’m not planning to do anything that puts the recovery back.
“Having a few days off work gave me time to think about what I want to do, and realise all the things that have had to go on hold. I still want to race, but I’m not going to rush into deciding what or where I’m going to race.
“The surgeon had to move my shoulder blade muscles to get the metal work in, then fasten them all on again. That’s what’s causing the most bother, the muscle not the broken bones. A lot of my work involves having my hands above my head, in the pit working on a truck above me, but I’m alright as long as I don’t overdo it. If it gets too much Moody or Belty give me a hand and I’m getting stronger every day.”
“I don’t remember anything about the crash after headbutting the ground, but the Dainese and AGV stuff I was racing in was bloody brilliant,” said Martin. The leathers were cut off me, but there weren’t many scuffs on them.
“I headbutted the ground at 130mph, then skidded into a dirt field and catapulted off a few things. The impact I hit the ground with was massive. I was knocked out, but it’s a credit to that helmet that I didn’t suffer any damage other than a badly bloodshot eye. There are no rubbish helmets any more really, but I wouldn’t have wanted to be wearing anything other than my AGV.
“I’ve broken some vertebrae, but I’ve got to say the Dainese back protector did its job. It has a honeycomb aluminium core that was crushed by the impact, which is what’s supposed to happen, and it’s making a funny noise if you flex it, but I crashed on Thursday night, I was operated on Friday afternoon and walking Saturday morning. That back protector genuinely saved my bloody life.
I am glad that Guy Martin is on the road to recovery and I am pleased he was impressed with his kit that has obviously helped save his life. So it goes without saying that wearing the right safety gear is important when you are out riding.