Yamaha Motor Australia press release:

CDR Yamaha’s Tom McCormack is recovering well in Adelaide Hospital after falling from his bike during round six of the Australian Off Road Championship, held at Wanbi, South Australia, over the weekend.

McCormack, who had just returned from a broken wrist, fell in the early stages of Sunday Sprint format and lay on the track motionless while fellow riders rushed to his aid. Officials then stopped the event to allow the Ambulance personnel to give McCormack their full attention and the Care-flight Helicopter was called.

His injures were diagnosed as five broken vertebrae in the Cervical region, punctured lung, some spleen damage as well as general soreness and bruising. Thankfully there was no spinal cord damage and McCormack has feeling and movement on all limbs. Doctors operated on Sunday Night to stabilize the area with two rods inserted, two vertebrae fused and also repair the damaged lung.

The operations were successful and McCormack tentatively took his first steps Monday afternoon and is expected to make a full recovery but will remain in hospital care for at least another week.

“Injuries to riders are the hardest aspect of the sport and are always extremely difficult to deal with,” states CDR Yamaha team owner, Craig Dack. “It’s even harder in off road racing as it is often out on the trial, away from the Parc Ferme and the medical people. Thankfully, the riders are always aware of this situation and take care of any fellow competitor injured on the trail.

“His brother Mike was one of the first to him and tried to comfort him. Then competitors came to his aid while Mike rushed to get the Ambulance as news started filtering back to us about the seriousness of his fall and injuries. The helicopter was then bought in and he was rushed to Adelaide Hospital.

“Everyone at CDR Yamaha is gutted for Tom and sends our best wishes to Tom, his family and friends. It can be a cruel sport sometimes, but Tom is a tough kid and will get through this. “On behalf of Yamaha and the entire CDR team, thank you to the medical staff and race organisers for their professional work on the weekend and their care for a fallen rider. It is greatly appreciated.

“The early indications from his doctors’ say he will make a complete recovery in time but will be required to stay in Hospital for the nest week to 10 days,” Dack ends. It also proved a tough day for CDR Yamaha team mate, Chris Hollis who fell during the opening stages of Saturday’s Cross Country event and left to pick up the pieces. Hollis got to work and in the next two and a half hours climbed his way all the back to fourth place outright.

Sunday also saw Hollis take fourth place, this time in the Sprint format. Despite missing a round due to injury, Hollis holds down eighth place Outright and will be out to improve that result in the coming rounds.

“It was one of those weekends where I rode well but not quite at the leaders pace. It was good without being great and I struggled a bit in the sandy conditions,” Hollis said. “Next round is back on hard pack style dirt and that suits my style a little better so I will be out to make up for this weekend.”

Rounds seven and eight of the Australian Off Road Championship will take place at Aratula, Queensland in June.

To follow the CDR Yamaha team on social media: www.facebook.com/cdryamaha or @cdryamaha.