Muggeridge racing since April with broken back

The Celani Race Suzuki rider is now recuperating at home in Switzerland after the shocking discovery about the severe injury he sustained during a crash at Assen in April.

Muggeridge had been in pain after the Assen crash, but X-Rays carried out after the fall did not show any damage to his spine. After another fall at Miller in the USA a couple of weeks ago Muggeridge had an MRI scan back in Europe, which showed existing damage to his T3 (in the form of crushing damage and a fracture) and T7 (crushing only). After seeing a specialist in Zurich on Monday it was confirmed that the injuries happened at Assen, with the crash at Miller luckily not complicating matters too much more, although obviously adding to the pain and discomfort.

Muggeridge said: "I have broken two vertebrae in my back, which is not good, of course. I knew it was sore in Assen but the X-Rays didn't show a fracture. One of the vertebra is broken and squashed, but there does not seem to be any disc damage, which is important for later life. I feel 100% better than after Assen, and the crash in America probably just reminded my body that it is not property healed yet. After my American crash all my muscles tensed up to try and protect my injuries. I had a not very comfortable flight home. I just didn't realise before then the extent of the damage that had been done."

But check this out, as the injuries have had some time to heal, Muggeridge WILL be at Misano on June 21st, where further medical checks and treatment will be made by the Clinica Mobile. Then he will have a better idea of whether or not he can return to racing at that round, or has to wait for more time to heal fully.

"I am going to Misano to see what the situation is and see what they reckon in the Clinica. Other than my injuries, I am healthy, and just taking some painkillers. The good thing about going to Misano is that my team and I can make a final decision about riding and the Clinica Mobile has my X-Rays and so on. I will be there from Wednesday of race week, so the advantage is that I can get medical treatment every day I am there. It's worth going for that." Bloody tough bloke. If that was us, and we'd stubbed our toe. we'd be laid up for a month.