Taddy Blazusiak hurt

[denill]

Taddy on the mend following four-hour operation

KTM Enduro Factory Team rider and ’08 Erzberg Rodeo winner
Taddy Blazusiak is recovering well after undergoing a four-hour
operation at the Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle, WA during
which time numerous metal plates were attached to both of his
cheek bones and left eye socket.

Hitting his face on the handlebars of his bike when he crashed on a
double jump while practicing for the WORCS X event – a race he was
competing in as preparation ahead of the second round of the
Endurocross series in Oklahoma City, OK, Taddy was initially taken
to a local hospital for evaluation before being taken to the
Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle, WA. Diagnosed as having
numerous broken bones in his face but no problems with either his
vision or with concussion Taddy underwent a four-hour operation
during which metal plates were attached to his left eye socket and
both of his cheekbones.

“What happened to Taddy sounds very nasty, but we’re hoping that
it’s not that bad,” commented Taddy’s brother Wojtek on Tuesday
morning, August 12. “Obviously communicating with Taddy is
difficult at the moment but he is able to whisper and use his hands,
and he has told the doctors that he’s not in too much pain. Taddy
broke his nose, both cheek bones and fractured his left eye socket
when his face hit his handlebars. The good news is that his vision is
fine, he has no concussion and the rest of his body is ok. When he
crashed he cut his left eyebrow so the surgeon went in through that
cut to fix his eye socket rather than making any new cuts. Taddy also
cut his tongue, but that’s fine now he has a few stitches.

The plates for his cheekbones went in through his mouth so there wont
be any obvious scars. We’re expecting Taddy to stay in hospital for 24
to 48 hours after the operation and then he will probably remain in the
States for a week while the swelling goes down. Taddy wants to get
back on a bike as soon as he can, but the doctors have told him that
it wouldn’t be a good idea to race next week. Taddy’s in pretty good
spirits and we’re hoping that he will be back racing as soon as the
swelling in his face has settled down.”

[denill]

Taddy back on a bike and ready for US Endurocross Rnd 4

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 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, CO, on September 27.

Undergoing surgery at the Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle, WA, where he was diagnosed as having multiple broken bones in his face, Taddy spent one-week in hospital before being allowed to return home to Poland. Once back in Poland Taddy spent one-month doing little more than resting while his injuries healed.

Now, having been told that he is fit to start riding again, Taddy is looking forward to his return to competition. While his chances of winning the ’08 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 start of the Indoor Enduro World Championship.

Taddy Blazusiak: “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 back on a bike again. What’s weird about having been forced to take some 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 that I spent in hospital in the States wasn’t much fun as I gave myself a pretty good concussion and was in a fair bit of discomfort. 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 and, well, it’s behind me now.

“I can still fee that things aren’t 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 per cent yet.

“I’ve decided that I will return to competition at the fourth round of the US Endurocross series, in Denver, CO. Although anything can happen I don’t realistically stand much of a chance of winning the championship. My goal now is to try and win as many races as possible and use the events as preparation for the IEWC series, which starts in November.

“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 emails I received has been amazing. Also, to all my sponsors and especially KTM, thanks.”

[NordieBoy]

I hurt my little finger when I crashed.

Those pros know how to crash properly.

[denill]

Taddy Blazusiak Results Service ‘08
AMA Endurocross Rnd 4, Denver, Colorado, 27.9.2008
Blazusiak third on US Endurocross return

KTM Enduro Factory Team rider Taddy Blazusiak has claimed a third place
result at round four of the US Endurocross series - the event that marked his
return to competition after undergoing facial surgery following a practice crash in early August. Although far from being fully fit due to his enforced lay-off, Taddy recorded the fastest lap time during the event’s ‘hot lap’ session before going on to win his heat race with relative ease. Knowing that he would find the main event tough due to having not raced in over two months, Blazusiak overcame a mediocre start to round the first turn close behind race leader Damon Huffman.

Quickly up to third Taddy was battling with Ricky Dietrich before the Kawasaki rider fell, which allowed Blazusiak to inherit the runner-up position.
With the Denver track not overly technical it didn’t allow Taddy many
opportunities to put his trials riding skills to use. Nevertheless Taddy held
second until two laps from the end of the race when he made a mistake and
crashed over the bars. Although quickly to his feet and on his way Taddy
dropped to third behind Geoff Aaron. Opting not to try and re-pass the Christini KTM rider Taddy settled for third – a result that considering all that he’s been through in recent weeks he was pleased with.

Round 5 of the AMA Endurocross series takes place on October 4, in Columbus, Ohio.

Results – AMA Endurocross Rnd 4, Denver, OH
1. Damon Huffman (Kawasaki)
2. Geoff Aaron (Christini/KTM)
3. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM Enduro Factory Team)

Taddy Blazusiak: “After everything that I’ve been through since my accident I’m pleased with my result. It’s just great to be able to put my injury behind me, I can now focus on improving my fitness and improving my results. Everything went well for me in Denver, but I suffered with my lack of fitness, which I was expecting. I got the fastest lap during the hot lap session, I was more than one second ahead of Damon Huffman and Ricky Dietrich.

“I knew from the moment I won my heat race that I was going to find the final tough. In the main event I made an ok start, I was mid-pack going into the first turn, but I managed to work my way to third in the first few corners. I was having a good battle with Ricky Dietrich until he made a mistake and I moved into second. I didn’t try to catch Huffman who was leading because I knew if I pushed too hard I would suffer in the last laps.
“With two laps to go I crashed and went over the bars. I was up quickly but I dropped to third behind Geoff Aaron. I was really tired by that point so I didn’t try and pass him. I’m just pleased to be back on the podium.”