Blazusiak back on a bike
By TMX Archives on 25th Sep 08
FOLLOWING the horrific practice crash that resulted in Taddy Blazusiak undergoing a four-hour operation during which time doctors attached metal plates to his left eye socket and both cheekbones, the KTM Enduro Factory Team rider is pleased to be back on a bike again and preparing for his return to full-time competition.
Forced to stay off a bike for a little over five-weeks, and following several follow up visits to facial surgeons in both Austria and Poland, Taddy has been given a clean bill of health and is hard at work preparing himself for his return to competition – round four of the US Endurocross series, which takes place in Denver, Colorado, on September 27.
Now, having been told that he is fit to start riding again, the Pole is looking forward to his racing return. While his chances of winning the 2008 US Endurocross title are all but over, Taddy hopes to return to the podium during the second half of the series while readying himself for the World Indoor Enduro Championship.
"I'm not 100 per cent over my injuries yet, and I know it will be a little while until I'm back to my best, but it's great to be riding a bike again.
"What's weird about having been forced to take time off while my body healed is that I feel like the rest has done me good, in a strange way. I'm looking forward to racing again, so I can put everything behind me and focus on the rest of the Endurocross championship and the Indoor World Enduro Championship.
"Things weren't too good for a while after the crash, but I guess that's to be expected considering what I did. The first week in hospital in the States wasn't much fun as I gave myself a pretty good concussion. It was uncomfortable more than anything, and disappointing, too.
"For about three or four weeks I didn't feel like myself. I was getting headaches and generally feeling bad. But, after four weeks, things started to improve quickly, really quickly, and I feel OK now.
"Getting back on a bike is great. I don't think about what happened, or worry that it might happen again, it was one of those things.
"I can still feel that I'm not quite right yet when I put my goggles on, but it's not so painful that I can't ride now. I spent most of my first week back on a bike just play riding, nothing too serious. Everything went OK so I'm back to training on my Endurocross track again now. I feel pretty good, although I'm obviously not 100 percent yet.
"As I get ready to return to competition, I'd like to say thank you to everyone that has contacted me since my accident to wish me well. The number of e-mails I received has been amazing. Also, to all my sponsors and especially KTM, thanks.”