by Aaron Hansel
Injury Report: Atlanta
Thursday, February 23, 2012 | 4:00 PM
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PrintChad Reed - Broken Tibia and Fibula, Two Broken Ribs, Broken T6 Vertebrae and a Torn ACL
Comment: The injuries that Reed sustained in Dallas have forced him to withdraw from the remainder of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series. Reed’s goal is to be ready for the outdoor series, although that objective will be reassessed following surgery.
Austin Stroupe - Cracked Collarbone
Comment: Stroupe had a big crash in Dallas, and will be out of action for at least two weeks. On Feb. 20, Stroupe tweeted the following: “On my way up to doctor Tings surgery later tonite he’s saying its goin to be a quick recovery 2 weeks max.”
Gannon Audette - Broken Wrist
Comment: Audette broke his wrist during practice in Dallas, and will be out for the rest of the season. Audette plans on being ready for the Nationals.
Nico Izzi - Sprained Wrist
Comment: Izzi is still feeling the effects of his crash in Phoenix, and will undergo surgery next week to fix some problems. On Feb. 22, Izzi tweeted the following: “The bright side is I’ll only be out for a week they just gotta go in and clean up some stuff I tore from phx race 6 weeks ago.” Despite the injury, Izzi is planning on racing a 450 in Atlanta.
Tyler Sjoberg - Two Broken Ribs
Comment: Sjoberg suffered some broken ribs during practice in Dallas. There is currently no timetable on his return.
Reed was miss at least the rest of the SX season after a big crash in Dallas.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Eli Tomac - Fractured Elbow
Comment: Tomac suffered a minor fracture in his elbow in San Diego. No surgery is required, and Tomac will be ready when the Western Regional Supercross Lites series resumes in Seattle.
Andrew Short - First Degree Separation of AC Joint
Comment: After going down and getting run over on the start of the San Diego supercross, Short was left feeling pretty banged up. Short participated in practice in Dallas, but the pain was too great to race. Short is currently undergoing therapy, and will not be racing this weekend in Atlanta.
Tommy Weeck - Concussion
After a practice crash in Dallas, Weeck will miss Atlanta with a head injury. Weeck hopes to return in St. Louis. Weeck tweeted this earlier today: “Well guess its official I won’t be makin Atlanta this weekend. My head is still not ready from my crash last weekend.”
Kyle Peters - Slightly Separated Collarbone
Comment: Just days before Peters was to make his professional debut in the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites series, he injured his collarbone. The injury will keep Peters off the track for two to four weeks.
Scott Agostini - Fractured Talus, Lateral Ankle Ligament Tear, and Bone marrow Edema of Distal Tibia.
Comment: Agostini plans on returning to racing in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas.
Heath Harrison - Dislocated Hip and Torn Spleen
Comment: There is currently no timetable on Harrison’s return.
Sean Lipanovich - Broken Collarbone
Comment: Eastern Regional Supercross Lites rider Lipanovich underwent surgery for his injury and had a plate and eleven screws installed to repair the damage. Lipanovich is hoping to be back racing by St. Louis.
Dillon Huddleston - Broken Arm
Comment: After breaking his radius at A1, Huddleston resumed riding last week and hopes to return to racing in Houston.
Ryan Sipes - Broken Hand and Separated Shoulder
Comment: Sipes underwent surgery on February 9, and is expected to be out for six weeks. Sipes is planning on being ready to race when the Western Regional SX Lites series resumes in Seattle.
After a big crash in Dallas, Austin Stroupe is expected to miss at least two weeks.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Tyla Rattray - Concussion and Fractured Vertebrae
Comment: Rattray suffered a concussion and a fractured C-7 vertebrae in his heat race in Oakland. Rattray will spend a few weeks recovering, at which time his injuries will be reevaluated.
Ryan Morais - Broken Jaw, Several Fractured Vertebrae, Collapsed Lung, Concussion and Broken Ribs
Comment: Star Valli Motorsports is hoping Morais will be back on the bike in time for the 2012 outdoor season. Those wishing to donate to Morais’ recovery fund can click here: Donations can also be made through Road 2 Recovery.
Trey Canard - Injured Back
Comment: After a terrible crash in Los Angeles, Canard was released from the hospital on January 29 and was able to return home. Canard is not expected to ride for six months.
Chris Blose - Injured Shoulder
Comment: Blose suffered an avulsion fracture, severe bone contusion and a slight labral tear in L.A.. Blose originally thought surgery was in order, but tweeted the following last week: “No surgery for my shoulder! Just got to wait for my fracture to heal. 6-8 weeks!!!”
Chris Johnson - Broken Scaphoid and Dislocated Wrist
Comment: Johnson hopes to be riding by the end of April, and is planning on being ready for the outdoor season.
Ivan Tedesco - Broken Finger
Comment: After getting landed on in L.A., Tedesco will be out for six to eight weeks. The good news? Tedesco had a pin removed from his finger last week, and is expecting to have the remaining two pins removed next week.
Gannon Audette will miss the rest of the SX season after breaking his wrist in Dallas.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Josh Grant - Hurt Shoulder
Comment: Grant sustained a deep muscle contusion in L.A. and hopes to return to racing by Daytona.
Travis Bright - Broken Scaphoid
Comment: Bright underwent ligament repairs and had a screw put in his wrist. He’s back on the bike and will be ready to race by Seattle.
Don Parsons - Broken Leg
Comment: Parsons is planning on being ready for the start of the outdoor season.
Antonio Balbi - Broken Wrist
Comment: It is unlikely that Balbi will return to racing before the supercross season ends.
Chris Plouffe - Separated Shoulder and Torn MCL
Comment: Plouffe is planning on being back for the final three rounds of the 2012 Western Regional SX Lites series.
Tommy Hahn - Broken Fibula
Comment: After breaking his fibula in Phoenix, Hahn tweeted this week that he was “Aiming for this week sometime” to get back on the bike. Hahn hopes to be racing again in Houston.
Josh Hill - Broken Tibia
Comment: Hill suffered a broken tibia (lower leg) in his first turn crash at A1. The injury is not related to Hill’s previous leg injury that kept him away from the races last year. Hill is likely to return to racing in St. Louis.
Tomac suffered a minor fracture in his elbow in San Diego but will be ready when the West Region returns.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Wil Hahn - Fractured Right Hip
Comment: Hahn suffered a fractured right hip at the Honda test track on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Hahn has resumed riding and should be good to go when the Western Regional Supercross Lites series resumes in Seattle.
Michael Byrne - Broken nose and C-6 in Neck
Comment: After spending several weeks in a neck brace, Byrne’s recovery is going well. Byrne has resumed cycling, and is getting close to returning to the racetrack, as evidenced by this tweet last week: “Doc visit went good today still not ready but really good to see the progress from my last X-ray. Getting closer tho!”
Jimmy Decotis - Multiple Fractures in Feet
Comment: Jimmy D has started riding again, and is taking his recovery day by day. A final decision on his return has not yet been made.
Jared Browne - Broken Ribs and Torn Spleen
Comment: Browne has resumed riding, and is planning to return to racing this weekend in Atlanta.
Christian Craig - Wrist Problems
Comment: Craig will be sitting out most of the remaining Western Regional SX Lites rounds. Due to a broken wrist suffered at Southwick, Craig has not been at 100 percent, and underwent surgery to fix the problem.
Alex Ray - Collarbone
Ray suffered a broken collarbone in San Diego. No timetable has been set on his return.
Jason Potter - Broken Collarbone and Scapula
Comment - Currently, there is no timetable on Potter’s return.
Taylor Futrell - Badly Broken Collarbone
Comment: Futrell underwent surgery for the injury, and has resumed riding. He is hoping to be back racing by St. Louis.
Know of an injury we’ve missed? Email our man Aaron Hansel, [email protected], and he’ll handle it.
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LETS START PAYING THESE GUYS WHAT THEIR WORTH. THIS IS REDICULUS RISKING LIFE AND LIMB FOR PEANUTS..........
I agree 100%. This is crazy. The capability of the machine has far exceeded what the human body can withstand. I don't care who you are if you drop 20 or 30 feet out of the sky something is going to give.
I love this sport but this list is not acceptable. How do fans identify with the riders when this many are out with injuries?
these guys are beyond tough - badass gnarly tough
The list is getting longer and longer..
After reading this list i realize now why my parents wouldn't let me have a dirt bike.
Tough is a understatement. I don't think there is any other sport with this serious of a list, football included.
1) Chad Reed will go down as one of, if not THE baddest MF ever, Broken Tibia and Fibula, Two Broken Ribs, Broken T6 Vertebrae and a Torn ACL and still stands up and looks over at his bike. 2) PAY EVERYONE ON THE LINE MORE $$ the promoters should take the small piece of the pie, the racers are the show and they do it risking their lives.
MX/SX racers are the true modern day gladiators of the world!!
Football is for girls
Too many dangerous parts on a track these days, for sure big doubles & triples look cool but I'm sure they'd get the spectators with a safer track, they are there for the racing; they've got freestyle for those with a short attention span.
Money has nothing to do with it! No money is worth getting paralyzed for. Plus this is setting a bad example for all the kids that aren't getting paid a zac at the local track.
This list just bums me out. Look at all the 450 guys on it. The racing is going to be so mediocre now. I hope these guys can be ready for the nationals, escpecially Reed.
Good grief, it would be easier to list the healthy guys...
Now let the lions into the colliseum !!!!
So the Emperors can feast on the spectacle!!!
This from any point of view has turned ridiculous,just hope again no life threatening accident occurs.
Were not even half way.
Sush a shame, but c'mon guys get a grip. SX and MX are going to be dangerous, making the tracks easier will not shorten the list. Reed got hurt in a simple section, Hill and Short got injured on a start. Tomac got bit on whoops, Wil Hahn, Byrne, and Decotis got hurt practicing. Grant and Tedesco both got hurt in a very simple crash in a corner in LA. None of those where on massive jumps. It is very easy to break bones, heck my buddy broke his back when he tripped and landed square on his ass.
this is normal, its always been this way. we are more aware of all the injuries now because the information is mch more available. not too long ago a weekly news paper called cycle news was the cutting edge of the information highway; plus medicine is advanced more too, im sure guys had back injuries like reed and didnt know the extent of it. i know a dude that landed on his head in the first turn , got up raced back into the money. raced the second moto, then about wensday went to the doctor cause his neck was still sore, and came home in a halo. he had broken two vert in his neck. thats a bad dude. like my dad would say, if you gonna be stupid, youd better be tuf !
True true true. All good comments, but just to take at different point of view. I would quit my job today and be on the start gate tomorrow if I got a call from Team red or blue or whoever. I have broken a few bones in my life and didn’t get paid nothing for it.
For once I cant believe I am sayin this but I agree with everyone here.I just think that this sport is goin to the next level just like it did when mcgrath was racin and then comes RC to pretty much start the whole spending tons of money for trainers and so forth.Then ,I know I am gonna get s*#t for this but along comes JS7 to push speed to another level showin how to blast through the woops and the bubba scrub.You put all these together with the drive these guys have and bad things are gonna happen and it sucks.I hope they all return soon cause there is alot of good talent on the sidelines.
This sport is for the fearless! and no pro baseball or pro football player is as fearless as these guys! Dammm.... get these guys more money even the lower placed riders deserve what pro baseball players are making.
two250 is absolutly right.
Call it what you want...this list is ridiculous and long,,,,no matter what.
I dont see how anyone can see this like normal or for the brave only type of shit.
Just compare last year to date list so you can see how things have gone wild.
The list looks bad but I think it's fairly normal. When I raced 35 years ago everyone was getting injured. Two guys I know broke their backs and are still in wheel Chairs. This is a gladiator sport and the only beef I have with it is that not nearly enough riders are being paid what they should be getting paid.
Well it took years of being a Reed hater, but no more. This dude in the last yr has slowly turned me around. I thought I'd never admit, but I was hoping he'd put the wood to RV before this wreck. I have never made much money racing and at last count, I have been operated on 20 times. I'm now 50 and still race. I have broken my tib fib 3 times. It is a pretty common injury to knee brace wearers. You get knee protection, but the force has to go somewhere. That somewhere is either the tib fib or femur. Oh, I broke my femur before too. I have been called stupid more times than I have been called tough. There's just something about this crazy sport that many of us absolutely cannot do without. Hat's off to this long list... don't lose the fire and come back stronger.
you know, some of you guys are for the "pussifacation" of motocross!! to compete at the highest level in such a gnarly sport as MX....takes a person who is willing to risk everything to be the best he can be.......... none of these guys are pussies.......... not so sure about some of us here though
I'm torn-I do think that there's just too many "obstacles" sometimes on these SX tracks. I do think some are a little too technical, just for the sake of putting another technical thing on the track. And maybe I'm wrong, but I think a lot of the tricky, technical stuff is not even the stuff that most fans, especially non-riding fans, really like. For me, the double-triple-single-tripple-double.........damn rhythm sections are what's scary-one mistake and lights out. The big doubles/tripples are probably the easiest things on the track? I know TC got landed on off a big tripple, but how many guys get hurt on the big jumps? The boys are getting faster. Mistakes are more costly. And most of us know how instantaneously fast you can find yourself on the ground-even at the more docile speeds most of us ride at. One small mistake, even on "easy" parts of the track, and anyone can get hurt. Open up the tracks a bit, cut out the stupid stuff, and watch 'em fly.
That's a huge list and Reeds accident was really freaky with the bike catching hold of him and all.
Someone said: "Reed got hurt in a simple section..." Really? How many times have you railed a "simple" section like that? There's nothing simple about these tracks. Not at the speed the pros run. If it were, we wouldn't be seeing this ridiculous injury list. And to those who say money isn't a part of it, that too is just silly. Of course it's about money. These guys need to be paid on a level commensurate with their skills and typical career length. Like football or any other sport. Why would anyone risk their life for nothing? The more injuries there are, the harder it will be to find people willing to do it. Nothing like dangerous and underpaid to ruin a sport.
Just read that list... If im not mistaken there are 35 names on it since A1 or possibly a little earlier. 35 far out and to one degree or another they are serious injurys. Ive been an avid racer fan since i was 10 now about to hit the 30 shit. Hence i have followed Reeds career since about 1997 and someone ive looked up to ( hope he bounces back) being that i am now self employed and have a child on the way racing has taken a back seat didnt think i would see the day. Anyway what im thinkin is i have noticed a huge increase in injurys since dare i say it the rebirth of the four strokes. Why? are we goin that much faster are the weight of the bikes that big of a deal is it somthing todo with the inertia of the motor or are there just that many more people into motocross than 10 years ago ? I dont believe the tracks are more dangerous but come on 35 ****
What can we change?
And yes these guys need to be getting paid a hell of a lot more than they currently are!!!!
controversial i no but thats my 2 cents
Only to say: This list is ridiculous!!! I also thought I would never see a forum with everyone agreeing. No matter what you say...the days of the 2-stroke meant tracks were not built the way they are now i.e. tracks have adapted to push the capacity of both the bike and the rider...but has the riding in itself changed that much? I wonder....if JS is doing things as dramatically different one 450 as he was on his 125. Only the scale of those things has increased...and the associated risks (exponentially if you ask me)
JS7 and Fourstrokes have changed the sport !
One thing to take into consideration with the winnings and salary of these guys is that the money would come from...............You got it us, the fans. If the riders get paid more, the price of tickets cost more, a new bike costs more.......etc. I truly hate to see these guys get hurt, but they are pretty well compensated for their risks. Reed is a multi-millionaire, hence the funds to start his own team, and I know everyone on here has seen JS's compound. Check out K-dubs place, and he is a top 5 rider at best ( I am a huge KW fan, so I am not hatin'). They do it because they love the sport and know the risks. It does seem like there are way too many injuries since the hi-po 4 strokes have been on the scene, but they just keep getting faster and faster. That is why I do not get why people hate on Dungey. He rides within his comfort zone and will be a top player in the sport for years to come because of that. Reed has avoided injury due to that also, although he wanted it bad this year so he stepped his game up and unfortunately had a accident on a section that he is usually the king on. I just hope RV can keep it on 2 wheels for the rest of the season. Godspeed CR!
I think its time for some serious research. First, are there really more injuries than 15 years ago, I know we didn't have the racerx injury report each week right in front of us. Second a complete list of where and how the injuries occur. Then eliminate and change every possible cause for danger to our riders ( tuff block covers, STILL had them coming off in Dallas) even tuff block placement. Third I feel some basic rules can be followed for the tracks but it seems to me that the racing is what takes the rest of the injuries.
Reeds was a simple (but hard to do)small triple out of a corner and was rider error
Gannon A was not making the back triple Rider error, several struggled with it then got it down.
Morrais and canard was clear safety voilation that should have stopped after Grants ride in 09
Then we have a huge amount of injuries spread all over the track from the start to bowl turns to whoops and it seems to be equal. Our guys are racing on the edge and will push it every time with the desire to win. I feel if the tracks taper down of the starts a little more gradually and try to keep them a little wider is all I can think of. I don't feel the obsticles need to change and the variety we are seeing this year is good. If every thing was flat they would only go faster and pile up harder in the corners. I really don't think the triple soon after the start is much of a factor because guys have gotten landed on equally all over the track if you look back the last ten years- remember TC and RM was the cover that caused it not the triple. Looking back I have gotten injured in whoops, rythms, braking for corners, landing in sand, right out of the starting gate and hitting downed riders/bikes, only once off a big jumps. whats funny is I have gotten hurt just as much practicing as in racing.
Our riders need to focus every time they are on a bike.
PS one thing is clear to me, some guys are a lot more injury prone than others and some research on that would be interesting.
The biggest factor is we all choose to ride and race - no one is forced to ride and we all know the risks and Hell I still ride and moan about it the next day !!
Here is a fresh Idea. How about the AMA covering the riders with INSURANCE at any and all events to cover the cost of the injuries. It would be a snowball effect. The AMA would start making the tracks safer and safety equipment for each rider so the insurance premiums would be less. They might even downsize the engines.
I still think the 2 strokes were safer to ride.
I see guys giving Stewart all the credit here.. REALLY?? Good lord does it ever stop, wet dreams and all. I would give RC way more credit for changing the sport. His skkill, combined with his work ethic and flat out speed was something never seen before.. He was the first to have a perfect season, and had 2 of them. Stewart really perfected the scrub, brought it too another level, but what else?? Crashes. He had alot of speed, absolutely. and was the only guy to push himself to run with RC. But I also saw RC crash, get up, start his bike, and run down and pass Stewart too. So in MY OPINION, RC changed to sport more than any one rider since maybe Hannah or at least MC. But the 450 bikes changed it more than any other thing, rider or not..
@ride111mph--if you start binging insurance companies into this, the cost of everything would go through the roof. Insurance companies are the biggest crooks on the planet, and if that is brought into it. Nobody could afford to race..
When will the AMA look at this list and realize that it is just a matter of time before a big name rider gets killed in front of millions of fans on live tv ?.
When you combine bikes with more horsepower than a rider needs, with tracks that are 45 seconds in length, this is what you get.
Tracks need to be slower and more technical. Displacements should be 200cc and 350cc.
I hate to say it folks, but unless we slow em' down the lists will grow bigger every year. The funny thing about slowing them down is the benefit to the fans. Racing gets better, closer, and lasts longer.
AMA needs to talk to NASCAR. There are ALOT of things that can be better for both rider and fan.
these are only the top pro's. Imagine the list of amatuer hopefulls and weekend warriors
racepaint, I don't think speed is the problem, or horse power you can only get so much to the ground then you lose control. Remember we alredy learned that the 250 2stroke was actually faster than the 500's. if the guys were restricted to 150cc they would still be jumping everything and hitting each other. The 250 class is still getting hurt as much as the 450 class. You also cannot tell them to not try so hard. They can learn that most times consistancy wins in the end. I tend to think do all we can to create a safer enviorment and let them race. I wish someone could pick a season from ten years ago and see if the injuries are more compared to the # of racers. Taking the 450's to 350's is maybe a tenth of a second per lap and would have no effect on injuries. I think 450 could be safer because of a more consistant powerband and are easier to ride. I know when I switched to 4 strokes it smoothed me out.
You cant make an omlette without breaking some eggs.
Valli/Rockstar should be Valli/AFLAC - wonder if that team gets a group discount?
Well said smartypants... this is racin. the risks are great but the rewards are greater
The list is getting longer because there is now a dedicated weekly news letter for not only top level rider updates, but riders that you wouldn't normally hear about by the major networks/magazines. Riders have always suffered injuries. Supercross is an exciting sport to watch, if we didn't have it, do you really think flat track would sell out football stadiums? Agree?
200cc....... really? hahaha .... the safest thing a moto rider can do is park the bike and never ride again. the bikes and tracks are only as dangerous as the rider is willing to risk. dont turn this sport into some kinda pansy ass chicken licks raceway. its pro mx..........the riders are bad ass gnarly suns-a-bitches and the tracks should be compatiable. you realy should have known................
If it weren't for a dirt bike i'd never had broken a bone,hell for that matter i'd never have had stitches,now on the dirt bike i've broken both arms,broke my collar bone,broke some ribs,broke and dislocated my elbow,callapsed a lung,ruptured my spleen,plus so many other bumps bruises,sprains.So now at almost 50 years old do I have any regrets,hell no wouldn't change a thing,it's called living my freinds.A moto junkie knows the thrill of going fast against rough terrain is the most alive you can feel,better than anyother feeling on earth,in the words of Jeff Spicoli danger is our business,later,off for a rip.
at almost 40 Ive broken legs collar bones destroyed my knee, T12 incomplete para I still think about riding at least one every hour of the day and I still ride , I am a moto junkie I have no regrets of all the injuries I have done to my self ,yes all these riders deserve to make more money they would still do it because they love to ride and they love the sport
ya the injury report is ridiculous , what if ? the racers were trained to tuck and roll as the first line of defense for their bodies? course all circumstances of crashes are different but , having used this technique once or twice my self (not at 70 or 80 across a whoops section ) got up and of course bumps and bruises were appearent , but no broken bones . i know you only have a split second to decide but trained this way , it would become instinct and survival . just a thought!! pound on me if you like i can take it !