[Bryan]

Jon, hoping for a full and speedy recovery. Hopefully after it is all done, there is some form of motorcycling that you can/want to participate in. It is natural to feel like no way in hell right now.


I had a highside back in 97 while road racing on a Honda RS250 GP bike at about 135 mph. I was turning left through an fairly high speed turn with all of my weight on the left foot peg. Someone in a different class that was racing at the same time cracked their frame which was also their oil tank. the oiled the outside of the track with a very light film. The 250 is ridden much like a dirt bike in that you throttle steer with the rear tire to keep your corner speed and momentum up. I entered the corner with my rear tire about 1 foot out of line with the front tire. And on this lap I missed my turn in point by about 6 inches. Which put my rear tire in the oil. I was in 4th gear about 12,000 rpm on the pipe and haulin ass. The back end went sideways an spun up before I even felt or reacted to it. I was launched about 20 feet in the air according to the corner workers. Time slows to a crawl at that moment. I swear it took 5 minutes to land on the ground. I remember thinking this is gonna hurt, reaching back and grabbing my shoulders. Yanking so I could roll out of it and land on my back. Which I did flat enough that I did not even knock the wind out of me. As I slid up the track about 150 feet on my back. I can echo the shout out for good gear.

The force of the highside went through my left foot it as it launched me off. I dislocated all the metatarsals and broke three bones on the bottom of my left foot. I got it stabilized with the EMT's at the track and then wen to the hospital to have xrays and confirm what I already knew. I went to the leading foot specialist in the area the next day to look at, and had surgery the next day. After two surgeries and 10 months, I was fully recovered. Have not had any issues since. The doctor told me at my last follow up that he was amazed at the outcome considering the speed involved.

I am convinced that following the doctor's directions and keeping a positive outlook are the two main factors for my full recovery. I was also in very good physical shape at the time which I am sure helped too. I also stayed active with the road racing club as I was also the race director that year and on the board of directors for the next three years.

It gave me something to focus on and kept me active in motorcycling. I never road raced again, but I did get back into dirt bikes with my kids and family, I taught the motorcycle safety (MSF) course, and got into sport touring. My whole family still rides dirt bikes, (albeit much slower now), and my wife & do at least 1 two week trip a year on our Yamaha FJR1300 sport touring bike (riding 2 up towing a trailer). Last years trip was our third to Alaska which we went all the way to the Artic Circle and rode just over 7000 miles total camping the whole way.

I can't imagine not riding in some capacity for as long as I physically capable and I hope you will be able to do so too.