Tommy Searle will thankfully not miss any more race action as a result of the first moto crash that caused the luckless Brit to pull out of the second sprint at Uddevalla for the Grand Prix of Sweden last weekend with a badly cut left forearm.
The 26 year old was making his third ‘comeback’ of 2015 and since joining the Red Bull KTM crew in the winter after previous injury problems of a fractured vertebrae and dislocated shoulder.
Searle fell while trying to pass former World Champion David Philippaerts for eighth position. “It was my error,” he said exclusively. “Philippaerts is a very aggressive rider and I tried to go around the outside and dropped into the rut a little bit too fast. I pushed in and I think my arm got caught on his footpeg because I cut it to the bone and banged it.”
Searle needed four stitches to close the wound and there were initial fears that maybe he had sustained a fracture in the same area of his arm where team-mate Tony Cairoli is currently nursing a problem.
The former triple MX2 championship runner-up – who moved into the premier class in 2013 – attempted the second race in Sweden but had to pull out after one lap. “There was too much pain in that small time in between motos,” he said.
The 350SX-F rider will travel to Kegums to compete in the Grand Prix of Latvia this weekend as he knows his saddle next to Cairoli in Claudio De Carli’s faction of the KTM set-up is not safe for 2016.
KTM are likely to field only two riders in the works team with the absent and injured Ken De Dycker out of the reckoning and the paddock is currently busy with discussions and final contract negotiations for the season to come. “There is [pressure] for me personally,” Searle revealed. “This is my job and my life. When you cannot show what you are capable of then it is really disheartening. Obviously I want to prove myself and stay here next year. The results this year have not been good and luck has not been on my side. It is also not worth me riding injured because that just makes it look even worse.”
The UK’s most prolific Grand Prix winner this century claims that talks have happened to renew his contract with KTM for ’16 but plans are still up in the air. “We’ve spoken a little bit but obviously they want to see something from me,” he says. “Me also, you cannot expect to stay in a factory team without results. I understand that. I would love to stay here and I will do my best to show I am worthy of another shot.”
If Searle can count on an improved feeling in his arm then this weekend will carry some positive vibes as #100 made his best race showing of the 2014 season at last September’s Motocross of Nations at Kegums by winning the MX2 category.
