Update on Ryan Hughes
Wednesday, February 20, 2013 | 9:00 AM
Share
Comment
Email
PrintLast week former factory rider, national-winner and Team USA hero Ryan Hughes crashed while riding in Southern California. He broke his back in the crash, and has since undergone two surgeries. The good news is that he's expected to make a full recovery. We spotted an update on Ryan Hughes on Facebook, posted by his wife Jennifer...
Jennifer Hughes
Well it's almost been a week since Ryan's accident. As most of you know, he suffered a horrific crash last Wed which he was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down upon impact. He regained feeling and movement, only to have paralyzation happen again from the chest down that same evening as a hematoma enlarged on his spine. He had two surgeries; one to relieve the pressure on his spine and the second the next day to place rods and screws from T2-T7 in his back. Happy to say both surgeries went beautifully and he is expected to recover fully. They already have him up cruising the halls, but needless to say-it's going to be a very long road for Ryan. He's got an amazing will and is the strongest person I know, so I am not worried-he's going to be back and he'll be stronger than ever :) He's done with riding MX, but he will continue to teach and give back to the sport he loves most. Thank you to everyone for your heart-felt well-wishes, your prayers and the strength you have sent to our family. We are so blessed in so many ways!
Share this article:
Did you like this article?
Check out WHEN DAYLIGHT BREAKS
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
When the lights go off on supercross and racing hits the daylight with the launch of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, everyone gets to start over. Page 110.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
Very glad to hear he'll make a full recovery!
Good to hear. Regardless of what you think of this guy, he was as bad*ss as a racer could be in his prime.
And still a bad *ss up to this day! His conditioning is off the charts. I remember him battling with MC and handling him at Mammoth a year ago in each moto.
Best of luck Ryan and speedy recovery. Great news indeed
I wasn't a big fan of Ryno's lately anyway,but to hear this-as a fellow rider that HAD to slow down racing/riding due to age and injury-I have to wish him the best and hope he recovers fully.I am still fortunate enough to be walking and still riding at a much slower pace.Good luck with the recovery Ryno!
Yes, very good news that he will make a full recovery! Hughes is a throw back to riders like Rex Staten, who had the tough guy image. Ryan has always had a strong personality, unafraid of giving his opinion, which intimidated some and outraged others. His professional career had its share of ups and downs, along with some controversy thrown in for good measure. While his popularity varies, from person to person, his knowledge of the sport and his competitive drive can not be questioned. The lasting memory I have of him is pushing his Kawasaki uphill towards the finish line, refusing to quit or except defeat, two qualities that will help Ryan in his recovery.
From your fans and friends in the Motocross community; Best Wishes, Get well soon and Thank you for all you have done in our great sport!! Helmets off and a Big Thumbs up to Ryan Hughes!!
BD25 said everything I was gonna say, w/o spelling and grammer errors, so I will just ditto. My mind has been on Rhino since last week, Its a tough bit, no matter what level ya acheived at the sport. Elbows up Ryan we be thinkin of ya's.
My brothers and I first saw Ryno riding at Gorman and he was testing the new 92 KDX and dude was crazy on it. Never thought a KDX could be ridden like that. HOLY SH$#@!$# was he rippin
Yes really good news and BD25 does always say it best! Itis amazing with the medical advances they have made over the years to benifit us all.
KEEP DIGGIN RHINO! Glad to hear the positive news. Hope that you will be able to throw a leg over the bike and ride, anytime you want. I too because of injuries, age, and family, have to keep things in perspective. I don`t have to try to be the fastest, I just want to be able to ride. More easy to say than do!
Wow, I've been in operating rooms watching surgeons perform spinal fusions, it's gnarly. I'm really glad he had those operations and will be doing a lot better now. Jennifer sounds like a wonderful lady. Someday I hope to find a class act like her.
But first, I have to dump this negative, grouchy curmudgeon of a nag, who is annoyingly loyal. Seems like the worst ones can sometimes be the hardest to get rid of, like cancer riddling the medulla oblongata.
I have been through injuries that made me stop doing the thing I loved most, but it did not force me to give up on life.
Ryan, take all of your energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge and attack the next phase of your life like it is the first turn at Glen Helen.
Treat everyone like they are assets to build upon instead of obstacles to run over and defeat, and you will be fine. It took me way too long to learn that last part!
@speedshifter, just show her that post lol
I have one thing I am willing to bet, he is not done with riding mx. I think its in his blood and he loves it to much. Im 49 and have broken 12 bones doing it and still can't keep away from racing. Ryan is way better and has done it way more and is still young, he will be feeling great in a few months and get the itch again. Will he be more careful? yes! but he will ride MX again and enjoy it - anyone want to bet on it ?
@speedshifter....you ever think that maybe youre the problem?? You have an annoying loyal woman but you are wishing you had another woman? I feel sorry for your "annoying woman" cause you sound like a whiny little biiaaatch!
davidl@. . . . . You are correct. Never near the level Ryno's at but I too broke L3 - L5 MXing in my 40's. Thought I would quit too. I ride now more then ever, Of course slower. It's living when you ride. He will ride again!
I seriously doubt he will stop riding all together. I broke my pelvis a few years ago and was back on the bike before I got cleared to work. How quickly we forget the pain. I now ride vintage bikes for this very reason. When the bike isn't capable of blitzing whoops or clearing a huge double it's easy to justify backing off.
6 months tops before we see footie or pics of Ryan riding again....just sayin!
Great news. Best wishes for a speedy recovery Ryan.
To hear all guys talk right now, is the best words Ive heard in days. To let you know, I am very close to the Hughes family, and I can say first hand, Jen is a wonderfully lady, wife, and mother. She has been there for Ryan through all the good and bad, and has never once thought of leaving the Ryno.
She has been a big part of Ryan's career, and I know Ryno will be thankfully to all of you for the kind words that have been said.
With that said, thank you to everyone out there for there support and prays. It means a lot to Ryan, and his family.
Like I've been saying for the last week, if anyone could get through this, the Ryno can.
Thanks to all of you.
DAMN! It must have been an EPIC crash! ( like superman being thrown through a building or something like that. )
I didn't think Ryno could be broken?!?!
Heal up friend. There are a lot of youngsters out there that NEED your dedication and attention to detail in training!!!
I'd still love to see Ryno race GNCC's. Two years and he'd own a title! Even at his age.
All I can say is THANK GOD! Nuf said
Ryno is in amazing shape and he's very strict about living healthy. He'll heal up just fine and be back out there. Maybe he'll back it down a little, but he'll never be done riding.
great news ! had a confrontation with hughes at the st. louis SX back in '97 that resulted in some very choice words from us both. never been a fan since then, but i have always respected his talent on a bike and his drive, determination, and toughness. best wishes for a full recovery to ryno .
Here's wishing Ryno has a speedy and successful recovery. He may not race competitvely after this, but I'm sure he'll be back on the bike within a few years. I know this doesn't compare to a nasty ass hangover in which you vow to never drink again, but same concept. Good luck buddy.
I was 34 years old when I broke T4/T5,C6 in a snowmobile accident so I know what you are going through. I recovered fully and some 16 years later I feel like a million bucks. Your interview on Pulp proves you are well spoken and represent yourself extremely well.This will amount to nothing more than a bump in the road for you. I share many of your views and you can't keep people like that down.
Good luck Ryno - I was a big fan of yours and luckily met you and your wife in1998 in Leipzig Germany after a supercross race. We lived at the same hotel and met you, roger D, steve lamson and other racers in the lobby after the race. Great feeling to meet idols at the age of 15 years - I got a picture with ryan and he was the nicest guy and really took hes time to talk to us fans. I still have that picture in my childhood room of my and ryno with thumbs up.- A fan from Denmark - Scandinavia
Barnhardt, I've been kind to you when you posted drivel the likes of which are the exclusive province of dotards and special needs children on acid. I hereby verbally roost you in the face with a CR500 in loose, rocky soil - nay, slate rocky soil, interlaced with chunks of granite - delivered by way of a sand paddle. Take that, you scoundrel.
@SpeedShifter: Paddle tire poetry. You made my day! that is some shunny fit, son.
Good luck and heal up what a shame to see anyone hurt
Good luck and heal up what a shame to see anyone hurt
What the hell did he do to bust 5 verts?????
Wow, This is the first I had heard of any paralysis, but then I am not privy to that kind of information, and shouldn't be, till someone like his wife decides to inform the public. Many thanks to his wife for this press release.
If they have alleviated the swelling as they did initially, that will lesson the chance of permanent nerve damage considerably. The rods and screws (as described) may or may not be permanent as a "permanent fusion" of the vertebrae, as they (may) be removed at a later point. Having T2-T7 stabilized is massive in and of itself and am not disputing that fact one bit. I just hope these weeks/months to come bring great progress through consistent and quality medical care and rehabilitation.
I wish Ryan and his family all the best in this hopefully (full) recovery stage.
Our thoughts are wish you man!!!
PS (with not wish).Though we do wish for you too...