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The earlier reported injuries to Steve Hislop, a broken wrist and ankle are in fact severe bruising, so he will be racing next weekend at the next round of the British Superbike Championship.
Hislop said after the race, “I don’t remember the crash at all, one minute I was racing and the next I was in the medical centre. From what Rob Mac tells me, the accident was pretty horrible to watch. I set my video to record the races, so I guess I’ll get to see what happened when I get home.”
“Knockhill is my home circuit,” continued Hislop, “and I’ve been really looking forward to racing there on the Virgin Mobile Yamaha this season. Although I’m obviously feeling battered and bruised, I’ve been told there’s nothing broken, so I’m absolutely determined to race next weekend.”
Troy Corser went down on the Aprilia and took Yanagawa with him. Yanagawa was uninjuried and quickly returned to the pits to get his spare bike. Corser was thought to need attention and was \"under observation\" when the race restarted.
Corser\'s injuries however amounted to only a grazed shoulder. Corser was critical of the marshalls and medical staff\'s enthusiasm in attending to him.
\"When I tried to get up, a marshal was holding me down,\" said Corser. \"He said I\'d had \'a big one\' and that I should stay still. I told him I was fine, but then as I tried to get up some more marshals came along and they all held me down. I was okay! I didn\'t have any concussion, but I heard them telling each other that I did!\"
\"I wanted to get back to the pits and get on my spare bike for the re-start, but I was prevented from doing it,\" continued the Australian. \"I was taken to the medical centre and our series doctor said I was okay, but the Brands Hatch doctor almost pushed him aside and stopped me from leaving. By the time they realised I was OK, it was too late to make the re-start and that was me out of the race! Apart from a slightly sore left shoulder I am absolutely okay. The pain of not scoring any points is far worse than any pain from the crash!\"
Others who fell suffered no injuries.
My two bobs worth: It was interesting to hear commentators making comments about Aaron Slight\'s lack of form and the fact that he is running out of races to impress Honda enough to retain his ride next year. I made mention of this before Leguna Seca. Despite our high regard for Slight his comeback has not yet returned him to top form and he is now in danger of being not being re-signed. Riders like Hodgson, Walker, Hislop, and Bostrom (all who would have to change teams) will all be under consideration for WSBK factory rides next year, and there are only so many seats to go around. Let us hope for further improvement for Slight in the remaining three rounds, because at the end of the day the dollars talk, and sponsors want winners. Sentiment does not come into it.
