Mel injury prompts medical backlash
By TMX Archives on 18th Mar 15
British MX2 title favourite Mel Pocock has undergone a series of operations on the hand injury he sustained at the opening round of the Maxxis championship at Hilton Park on Sunday.
The 22-year-old, who's lost half of his right thumb, was initially taken to hospital in Wolverhampton before being quickly transferred to a specialist unit in Derby.
"He didn't even crash,” his father, Mel Snr, told TMX on Tuesday. "A bike came down and the back tyre wheelspun on his hand and forearm and then the chain and sprocket carved through his hand.”
Mel underwent an operation at 3am on Monday to straighten his hand followed by a six-hour operation on the bones in the back of his hand. He still faces a series of muscle and skin graft operations.
Mel, who the weekend before finished a career-best sixth overall in the Thai GP, was given gas and air at the track. When another ambulance arrived 90 minutes after the accident – after he'd been carried to it by members of the public – morphine was administered.
"He's traumatised by events at the track,” added his father, "but he's now in very good hands and they completely understand it's his job.”
The incident has led to a social media backlash with calls from riders and prominent industry members for immediate action to improve medical facilities at Maxxis events.
In a statement released on Tuesday, series promoter ACU Events Ltd claims to have followed medical services guidelines laid down in the ACU's Motocross Standing Regulations.
A Facebook post on Monday showed Mel's incredible fortitude and that he's lost none of his sense of humour. ‘Glad iPhones have both thumb identity pads and number combo locks. Cause I've lost over half my thumb'.
