Natalie Kane: Damage limitation
By Team TMX on 5th Jun 14
Hitachi Construction Machinery KTM UK's Natalie Kane was disappointed not to be able to fight with full force at the Womens Motocross World Championship round four in St Jean DAngely, France at the weekend as injury thwarted her riding and the Irish lady concluded the weekend with a 6-5 result for fifth overall.
Kane, who was looking forward to continuing her fight at the head of the Women's series as it moves into the second half of the season, was still suffering the effects of a heavy fall in Sweden two weeks before. The 22-year-old from Loughbrickland in Northern Ireland wasn't sure she would even make the French race, and struggled her way through the whole weekend as she battled on to retain vital championship points aboard her KTM 250 SX-F.
In the opening race a brave Kane gated into fourth position and rode the best she could to take sixth at the chequered flag around the hardpack French track. A sleep in between races helped to get Kane onto the line for race two, as the Irish lady gated fifth and rode consistently to the end for fifth and fifth overall; her lowest result of the season.
Kane drops to third in the series and is 12 points behind the championship leader, Chiara Fontanesi. The KTM racer has now returned home for further detailed medical examinations to get to the root cause of her illness.
"Honestly that's one of the hardest races I've ever had," Said Kane. "We weren't sure I'd be well enough to ride, but I felt I had to give it a go to keep within a chance of a good result in the World Championship."
"Basically I collided with someone in the Swedish ladies series, which I compete in to keep me race sharp, and I landed heavily; I just haven't felt well since. I am now having more medical evaluations to check that there's no further damage that hasn't been found before and to get the best treatment I can, because we're missing out on vital riding and training time. I have to be pleased with the result at the weekend, because it was definitely better than missing the races.”
