Steve Matthes: Wow. What a massive blow for Dean Wilson and his career. The friendly, outgoing, funny Scotsman (25 percent Canadian!) suffers yet another substantial injury. This time it's not his shoulder; it's the knee and it's going to keep him out for a long time. Ever since winning the 250 AMA Motocross Championship it seems that he's had more stops and starts than someone on the 405 at 5 p.m.
In a sport where riders are increasingly becoming more and more guarded in what they say and who they say it with, Wilson was refreshing to talk to, and as anyone who follows him on social media knows, very funny. Dean's a bright light in the sport and certainly talented enough to become one of the top riders if he could just stop getting hurt. Coming off his best ride of the early supercross season at A2, I spoke with Dean about his new trainer and new attitude that next morning. Although the first two rounds couldn't have gone any worse, he was in his usual good mood.
What can you say when something like this happens? Heal up, Dean, and we'll see you out there soon. Unfortunately, you know this drill all too well.
Jason Weigandt: Each season starts with #deepfield and #stacked but soon injuries thin the heard. They always do. After just three races, Wil Hahn, Weston Peick, Justin Brayton, Mike Alessi, and now Dean Wilson have been lost to injury. We hear Mikey is being defiant of his doctors on Twitter, so he may be back soon, but we don't think he's racing this weekend. He'd like to come back and soldier on with a knee injury, but that's not an option for Dean Wilson, who apparently really jacked himself.
Again. Seriously, is there anything sadder about sports than injuries? They're unexplainable, they're unfortunate, and they're the one part of the game or the race that impacts real life. A string of injuries impacts the competitor deep down, much more than simply getting a bad result. Dean, in his Instagram post, said he was so gutted he was considering quitting altogether. Those are heavy words—it shows how quickly a great professional career, and the money, accolades, and accomplishments that come with it, can go away. Every fan, in every sport, can tell the story of someone who was going to be great until an injury stopped them.
Now, there will still be folks who try to explain injuries, because we want a desperate answer to why. There isn't an answer. There just isn’t. In this sport, you can blame bikes or tracks or something else—I can guarantee you someone right now is saying Dean lacks focus, with his funny clips on Instagram as their only evidence—but it doesn't really explain anything. Knee injuries like this, for example, have been part of the sport since day one. Different tracks, different bikes, same results.
There is no explaining it, and that's the saddest part of all. Right now Dean Wilson is looking for answers, and there just aren't any. #getwellsoon
Chase Stallo: Can we just rewind to last week and a much happier time, when everyone was healthy and starting to come into their own? Just three rounds in, and the much-ballyhooed depth of 450SX has taken a huge hit. Peick (foot) and Brayton (shoulder; back) will return; Alessi may miss a few weeks or may race this weekend, depending on whom you ask; and, as we just learned, Wilson (along with Wil Hahn) will miss the rest of Monster Energy Supercross.
As others have said, this is a crucial injury at a crucial time for Wilson, and just the latest in a long-string of setbacks that appear to be taking its toll. As one former rider just texted me: ”It’s bad,” when asked how injuries can effect you mentally. He continued: “Like he said, he pondered quitting yesterday. I’d say that’s a true statement.”
I don’t think anyone knows what the future holds at this time—even Dean himself. Do I think he’ll retire? No. But, I wouldn’t blame him if he decided to. Hopefully Dean can get back to doing what he loves—riding and having fun doing it.
Jason Thomas: Poor Deano. Just when Dean was getting some real time on the bike and looking to build on last weekend’s improvement, disaster strikes again. I can't imagine how bummed he has to be but judging from his words, he was considering every option thinkable. I hated to see him considering retirement because I think he has a lot of good days ahead of him. Sure, he has been struck by injury over and over and that has to be overwhelming, no doubt. But, he also has a good contract in place and makes very good money to race his motorcycle. He is one of the most talented racers alive and has to think long term and how many years he has left to make this work.
The main reason I would advise sticking with this is simple: Racers these days are born, bred, and trained to race. There is no more high school or preparing for the real world with the current crop of motocross stars. This is what racers are qualified to do—race a motorcycle. For Dean, while these days may be dark, he is too young to give up just yet. The working world will be waiting for him eventually and maybe, just maybe, he will be successful enough to avoid that prospect entirely if things turn around. To retire now would mean facing reality and either joining the work force or going back to school and starting from way behind the eight ball.
Put simply, racing, even though it may seem daunting and depressing now, is his best option. He is far too good to simply turn his back on his talent. Injuries will heal and he will be back out there in due time. He has a great list of sponsors that have his back and he will be on great equipment when he returns. Today is a dark day but don't give up, Dean. It is always darkest just before the dawn.
