Former European Champion and current MX2 Grand Prix rider Mel Pocock suffered a brutal injury to his right hand at Hilton Park for the first round of eight in the Maxxis British Championship yesterday.
Part of the 22-year-old’s thumb was severed and the rest of the limb sustained lacerations and other damage that could not only potentially wreck his career but also have repercussions for the rest of his day-to-day life.
Pocock, a favourite for the British title this year, crashed early in the first MX2 race of the day after being unable to avoid a fallen rider. According to the Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki Team Manager Steve Dixon the cause of the carnage is unclear but is likely to involve contact with the chain and the rear wheel of the motorcycle. “It was like something out of a horror movie. Mel’s arm looked like it had been through a meat grinder,” Dixon said. “We were all very shocked by what happened.”
There was concern at the circuit over the length of time that it took for Pocock to get proper treatment beyond the initial first aid steps and he allegedly did not leave the track for over an hour after the accident occurred. He was taken to hospital in Derby where hand specialists were able to make an early assessment. The delay for attention caused the race programme to be reduced from three motos to two.
Pocock is likely to face a lengthy recovery and rehabilitation period and fans of #119 hope that the 2012 EMX250 Champion – who had equalled his best GP finish with sixth place in Thailand just over a week ago – will not have to consider his options in the sport. His DRT team-mate, Max Anstie, was not competing at Hilton Park as he recovers from the shoulder injury and is expected to start riding the KX250F this week.
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