by Aaron Hansel
Injury Report: Las Vegas
Friday, May 4, 2012 | 12:00 PM
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PrintDarryn Durham - Dislocated Shoulder and Torn Labrum
Comment: Durham injured his shoulder this week in practice and will not be racing in Las Vegas. We are still awaiting word on when he’ll be able to return to racing.
Nico Izzi - Broken Nose
Comment: Izzi crashed hard in qualifying in Salt Lake City, breaking his nose in the process. Despite the injury, Izzi will be racing in Las Vegas.
Ryan Sipes - Soreness and Bruising
Comment: Sipes was left feeling banged up after Jason Anderson ran into him during the parade lap in SLC, but is still planning on racing in Las Vegas.
Cole Seely - Ruptured Kidney, Lacerated Liver and Whiplash.
Comment: Seely crashed hard in SLC and will not be at racing in Las Vegas. He’s also expected to sit out the first part of the Nationals, and there is currently no timetable on his return.
Travis Baker - Concussion
Comment: Baker suffered a concussion in SLC and will sit Las Vegas out. Baker will be ready to race for the start of the Nationals.
Despite a shoulder injury Wilson will be racing in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Simon Cudby photo
Nick Paluzzi - Fractured Scapula
Comment: Paluzzi is hoping his injury will only keep him off the bike for two weeks.
Ryan Villopoto - Knee Injury
Comment: Villopoto will sit the remainder of 2012 out after suffering a torn ACL in Seattle.
Dean Wilson - Injured Shoulder
Comment: Dean Wilson crashed after coming together with Eli Tomac in Seattle, causing his shoulder to temporarily pop out of socket. The following week in SLC, Wilson crashed and further aggravated the injury and pulled out of the race. Wilson is scheduled to race in Las Vegas.
Gareth Swanepoel - Knee Injury
Comment: Swanepoel had surgery to fix an issue with the patellar tendon in his right knee and ended up picking up an infection, which will leave him sidelined until the beginning of the Nationals.
Jeff Alessi - Sprained Wrist and Broken Toe
Comment: Alessi suffered a crash in his heat race in Seattle that will put him out of action for the remainder of the supercross season. Alessi plans on returning in time for the Nationals.
Bryce Vallee - Lacerated Liver and Kidney, Two Broken Femurs, Three Pelvic Fractures, Shattered Left Elbow with Radial Nerve Damage, Fractured Collarbone and Multiple Fractures in Lower Spine.
Comment: Vallee suffered a horrible crash while leading a race at Pala Raceway. After being landed on multiple times, he was airlifted to Palomar Hospital and underwent two surgeries, with rods inserted in both femurs and three plates and 33 screws used to repair the left elbow. After spending 25 days in the hospital Vallee was released last week. Currently, there is no timetable as to when Bryce will be fully healed. Donations for medical expenses can be made at www.brycevalleemx.com.
Seely is expected to miss a majority of the Nationals after a big crash in Salt Lake City.
Simon Cudby photo
Ben Townley - Dislocated Hip and Broken Bone
Comment: Townley, who was intending on racing The Nationals for TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray, underwent surgery for a femoral head-associated acetabular rim fracture. Although Townley is expected to make a full recovery, he will not be back on the bike for the Nationals.
Kevin Windham - Acute AC Shoulder Separation and Fractured Wrist
Comment: The injuries Windham sustained in Houston will cause him to miss the remainder of the supercross season.
Frankie Lettieri - Torn Labrum
Comment: Lettieri underwent surgery and is hoping to be back on the bike by the end of the Nationals.
Ivan Tedesco - Broken Finger
Comment: After getting landed on in L.A. and missing much of the season, Tedesco attempted to make his return in New Orleans after only five days of riding. Tedesco simply wasn’t ready to race yet and hasn’t raced since. Word is, Tedesco is looking for an outdoor ride and has been doing some testing with the Pro Circuit team this week.
Josh Hill - Broken Elbow
Comment: Josh Hill was scheduled to return to racing in Houston, but a broken radial head in his elbow changed his plans. Hill is not expected to enter any races before the end of the season.
James Stewart - Hand
Comment: Stewart crashed in his heat race in Indianapolis and incurred a broken bone in his hand. Stewart crashed again in Houston, further aggravating his hand. Stewart plans on making his return to racing at the beginning of the Nationals.
Seely's teammate, Travis Baker, will also miss the season finale.
Simon Cudby photo
PJ Larsen - Foot and Knee Injury
Comment: In Toronto, Larsen went down hard during practice in a rhythm section, sustaining injuries to his knee and foot. He will not be racing in Las Vegas.
Josh Hansen - Hurt Ankle and Knee
Comment: Hansen underwent surgery to fix his hurt ankle, and will not be racing in Las Vegas.
Kyle Partridge - Cut Foot, Broken Toe and Broken C3 and C4 Vertebrae
Comment: Partridge had a run-in with the over/under bridge during practice in St. Louis, which resulted in several injuries. Partridge, who has full movement of his limbs, underwent surgery to stabilize his neck. Partridge is not expected to return before the season ends.
Ben LaMay - Injured knee
Comment: After suffering a concussion and fractured hand in St. Louis, LaMay returned to racing in New Orleans, only to aggravate a previous knee injury. After sitting out two rounds, LaMay will return to racing in Las Vegas.
Jimmy Decotis - Torn ACL
Comment: Just when it seemed that Jimmy D would be able to return to racing after suffering multiple fractures in his feet, he crashed while practicing and tore his ACL. The injury effectively takes Decotis out of action for the rest of the season.
Chad Reed - Broken Tibia and Fibula, Broken Ribs, Broken T6 Vertebrae and a Torn ACL
Comment: The injuries that Reed sustained in Dallas have forced him to withdraw from the remainder of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series.
Despite a broken nose, Izzi will be racing in Vegas.
DC photo
Austin Stroupe - Cracked Collarbone
Comment: Stroupe had a big crash in Dallas, and was forced to undergo surgery for an injured collarbone. Stroupe is recovering in Northern California, and will not be racing until the gate drops at the Hangtown Motocross Classic.
Gannon Audette - Broken Wrist
Comment: Audette broke his wrist during practice in Dallas, and will be out for the rest of the season. Audette has resumed riding, and plans on being ready for the Nationals.
Justin Starling - Torn ACL
Comment: Starling was the replacement for Gannon Audette, but now he will be out for the rest of the supercross season with a torn ACL.
Tyla Rattray - Head and Neck
Comment: Rattray suffered a concussion and a fractured C-7 vertebrae in his heat race in Oakland. He was finally cleared to ride two weeks ago, and is currently preparing for the Nationals.
Ryan Morais - Broken Jaw, Several Fractured Vertebrae, Collapsed Lung, Concussion and Broken Ribs
Comment: Morais recently had all of the metal removed from his mouth, but is still unsure when he will be able to get back on the bike, as he is still dealing with the effects of the crash. Those wishing to donate to Morais’ recovery fund can click here. Donations can also be made through Road 2 Recovery.
Trey Canard - Injured Back
Comment: After a terrible crash in Los Angeles, Canard was released from the hospital on January 29 and was able to return home. Canard hopes to begin therapy in the next few weeks, and plans on making his return to racing in 2013.
Don Parsons - Broken Leg
Comment: Parsons is planning on being ready for the start of the Nationals.
Sipes is IN for this weekend.
Simon Cudby photo
Tommy Hahn - Broken Fibula
Comment: Hahn is back on the bike, but has scrapped his plans to race any more supercross races this year. Hahn will return to the track at the Hangtown Motocross Classic for the start of the outdoors.
Michael Byrne - Broken nose and C-6 in Neck
Comment: After spending several weeks in a neck brace, Byrne’s recovery is going well. Byrne is now back riding and preparing for his return.
Christian Craig - Wrist Problems
Comment: Craig sat out most of the Western Regional Supercross Lites rounds after opting to have surgery to fix lagging problems stemming from a broken wrist he suffered last year at Southwick. As of this week, Craig has still not been cleared to ride, although the team is hoping that he’ll be ready for the start of the Nationals.
Auston Albers - Spiral Fractures in Fibula, Chipped Tibula, and Torn Ankle Ligaments
Comment: Albers cross-rutted in practice in SLC and landed wrong on his left ankle. Albers underwent surgery and is hoping to be ready for the Monster Energy Cup.
Know of an injury we’ve missed? Email our man Aaron Hansel, [email protected], and he’ll handle it.
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Soooo, what's the point of this race?
Oh yea, to take a chance on getting hurt right before the nationals start.
Wow, Bryce Vallee... I didn't hear about that injury, its amazing that guy is alive.
@skycooper - Prize money, sponsorship money, improve chances of a factory ride, bike testing, the chance to win Las Vegas...
My favorite is "Partridge had a run-in with the over/under bridge". Makes it sound like he was attacked by a transformer or something.
Why is everyone racing this weekend? Because they are racers. That's what they do. If they were worried about getting hurt all the time, they probably wouldn't have made it to this level.
What a bunch of P*ssys! Just kidding. I cried for 5 days back in 1984 when I laid my DR100 over in a berm and the pipe put a burn mark on my leg. It's more fun now to watch on tv and talk about how some of them, Millsaps, don't train hard enough while eating chips and beer. Just kidding again Millsaps, your doing better. Peace out.
I makes me sick to any of these guys get injured. I wish them all a full and speedy recovery. Especially Vallee, I think that's the most extensive list of injuries I've ever seen, and I can't imagine what the kid is going through.
Gosh Darn it. I was thinking of an Hangtown trip but I think I will stay home and watch a local race. Not to many top riders will be on the starting line.
I really do think the four stroke bikes have made the racing more expensive, and increased the risk to the body. Its not a fluke. YOU GUYS NEED TO LISTEN OR WE MIGHT JUST LOOSE THIS SPORT. Something needs to happen that will make sence for everyone. Maybe just try a 125 2 stroke class for the outdoor nationals that do not have a WMX. Let take a look at the racing and how many riders get hurt
This just in JS7 beaver is hurting, as a fan it sucks that whenever I go to a races he conveniently isn't racing AND doesn't come out to sign autographs for the fans. What is up with that JGR?
The tracks are too gnarly for the conditions?
Yes the riders are more then cable of doing any supercross section BUT..
They don't practice with 19 other riders with horrible deteriatin conditions?
At night after the tracks been raced on all day???
And in front of 60,000 fans
on live tv!
Add these all together with the pressure of sponcers and winning as well as the riders must be exhusted by thier 9pm main?
With huge ruts up the faces of the jumps it all adds up to a recipe for disaster!
These kids are getting slautered out there and it's not fun to watch?
This sport is brutal and with corporate hype thier more worried about selling diabeties in a can then making a safe race track suitable for the conditions???
I guess all this pressure and tracks being raced on all day is a new challenge ??? Something New???
How to fix it?
Make longer runways leading into the big jumps
do more track prep in between races? (field motorsport can afford a couple more bobcats?)
fill in the 2nd-3rd triple (if a rider can't jump it he's on top not smashing the back face at 3-4 G?)
make rythems that riders have to stay in sequence?
Black flag lappers that aren't racing (sitting down circling the track) and FINE lappers that stay in the racing line distrupting the outcome of the real race?) look closely at the reed crash? There's a lapper sitting down lookin back all squirely? At that speed the slightest just moving your line a couple of inches throws your timming a direction off enough to end the sweetest championship battle in a flash!
I'm a rider/racer and cringe when I see what these riders are goin through by the end of the night!
But like everything, nothing will be done until someone dies on live TV?
By the way I saw a commercial for supercross and they used the conard/moaris LA crash! WTF is up with that? That shows the corporate greed? Why would monster energy care? There's thousands of kids that are waiting for the chance, cause once riders are hurt thier forgotten and it's on to the next one!!!
Hey ride 111
riders getting hurt is nothing new, but the injuries thier sustaing is nothing short of a a horrible traffic wreck?
Breaking kneck and backs is a trend now? Thanks Bob Barcia from wind tunnel for bringing up the fact that every title contender got hurt bad this year and coined the phrase (less gnarly) tracks.
Honestly
the AMA wants to model itself after NASCAR? But the factory bikes are soo much better that it's the equivilent to letting ten top drivers race without restrictor plates? And the purse to make the night event isn't worth the risk? And is hardly gonna get you across the country with a rebuilt bike for the next race?