SuperBike Magazine July 2020

Reader
LETTERS
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
THE LETTER
OF THE MONTH
WINS A HJC
HELMET.
Prize is based on availability of models. Pictures serve as illustration only.
Dear Clint,
I’ve been struggling for 4 and a half
months in some serious pain since
January with complications from my
“camel crash” racing in Mauritania.
Finally after numerous MRI scans, dye
injections and different specialists I
think we have a long and difficult, but
proper solution going forward.
So this week we kicked off
with a right shoulder op to repair
the torn tendon, shave the
bone and add the new anchor
points. It’s gonna be six weeks
in a sling and then a good few
months of rehab to get it back
to 100%.
Once that’s done then my
left wrist gets fused between
the scaphoid, lunate and capitate
bones as well as a cartilage
repair. So all in I’m “man
down” for most of the year.
They can’t do them together
as it’s right shoulder and left
wrist and Meredith refuses to
wipe my butt for me....so much
for team work!!
Jokes aside, crashing bikes
and getting injured really
sucks and I certainly believe
there’s no “bragging rights” when it
comes to how you’ve damaged your
body. For some people who don’t ride
they see posts like this and think how
mental and foolish guys are who ride
bikes or participate in extreme sports.
I fully get that and I can see how it can
be perceived that way. The truth is I
hate getting injured or seeing other riders
injured and I do all I can to reduce
the chances of injury by wearing the
proper protective gear and calculating
all the risks vs reward moments when
riding or racing. The only way to fully
eliminate injuries is to avoid all risks.
Some people will choose this path
and live a “safe life” avoiding all risk,
injury and chance of failure but in my
opinion they will miss out on the very
essence of what this incredible life
has to offer. For me I will choose the
package deal where there will be times
like this of pain and healing but also
a constantly growing list of incredible
adventures, far away places, friends
like brothers and squeezing every last
drop out of this awesome life!
PS. This might just be the meds
talking.
Joey Evans
Hi Joey
I totally get where you are coming
from. Our lives although very different
have quite often intertwined at
different times. Some of them life
changing events for us personally and
for our families. We were at the same
event when you hit that cow on the
Pongola 500 while you were training for
the Dakar a few years back. You were
shipped off to hospital and I
can clearly remember your kids
and Meredith in a panic back at
the hotel. For sure we put our
families through a lot. On my
side a few years back my wife
just gave birth to our little girl
one week before and there I was
unconscious for 10 days in Milpark
because I got it wrong on
a Kawasaki H2R. The aftermath
of that is that I was so blessed
to make it through that situation
and that has also shaped
me into the person I am today.
In essence all things we have
gone through and experienced
make us who we are today and I
would not change it at all. I wish
I could have saved the agony
I put the close people around
me through but for the rest, I’m
happy where I am now and I’m glad to
see you feel the same. Go and and live
it, you only get once shot at it.
By the way, you’re our winning letter of
the month. If you don’t want the helmet
as a prize, please feel free to nominate
a person who would love to receive it
from you.
Cheers,
Clint