Husqvarna's Kearney Takes "Break a Leg" to New Level
Parts Unlimited River Ranch, Florida - A broken leg would probably make most people think twice about entering a premier off-road racing event like the the opening round of the 2009 GNCC series. But for Team Husqvarna's Glenn Kearney racing with a broken leg only meant that he'd have to adjust his riding style a bit. After all the tough Aussie wasn't about to sit home and whine about the hand he'd been dealt and let a broken fibula deter him from his objective.
Just days before he and race technician Wyatt Seals pointed south to Florida from their Hickory, North Carolina race shop, Kearney crashed and broke his fibula on a training ride. Thanks to his high level of fitness and the excellent post-injury care he was able to receive from trainer/physician Dr. Johnathan Edwards, M.D., Kearney was able to make the show so on March 3rd Kearney lined his Husqvarna WR300 on the starting line, just as he'd planned.
"I am here to race and I'll do whatever I have to do to finish the job,"said Kearney, determined to keep his hopes of a series championship alive. "I've trained too hard for this day and there are too many people backing me to throw in the towel now."
As expected Kearney's day in the saddle was at times excruciating and if ever there existed a rider who deserved a "hall pass" to call it a day, he was that rider. Mile after mile he pushed, pressed, and persevered, hoping to maintain a reasonable pace and cleanly traversing each section. The rugged palmetto palm plagued GNCC course is renowned for punishing all comers and Kearney was no exception. He suffered a few get-offs including a smashing interlude with a tree branch that left his helmet in pieces but as the minutes ticked by he stayed in the hunt. At the end of it all his superhuman effort was rewarded with a top 10 finish, proving once again that Heroes (really do) Ride Huskys! With this ride in the books, Kearney fully intends to carry the same determination to GNCC Rd. 2 action in Washington, Georgia this Sunday, March 8th.
Husqvarna Motorcycles. Tradition on two wheels since 1903.
Husqvarna Motorcycles, a part of the BMW Group since October 2007, are widely known and respected in the off-road world for a heritage of competition and numerous motocross and enduro world championships. Originally founded in Sweden in 1903, Husqvarna motorcycles have been designed and manufactured in Varese, Italy since 1987.
Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC
Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC is part of BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America is located in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC returned to off-road racing competition in 2008 and during 2009 Husqvarna will expand its professional race team to compete in AMA GNCC, Endurocross, National Hare & Hound, the AMA Hare Scrambles Series, and WORCS competition. Husqvarna team riders will compete in the premier classes of each series aboard 2009 Husqvarna TXC 450, TXC 510, and WR 300 off-road models.