Gillman Speedway injured rider update - March 2014

March 11, 2014 by Gillman Media

The two riders injured at Gillman Speedway on Saturday night have emerged relatively unscathed.

Surprisingly, after Sidecar passenger Derick Thomas was kept on the track for about an hour because of suspected neck injury, it was Solo rider Chris Ferguson, who was injured in the pits, who has come out of it the worst.

Ferguson started the meeting well, leading eventual President’s Trophy winner Arlo Bugeja for three laps in the first heat, but then slipped and fell in the pits starting his bike for the next heat. He landed on his shoulder and was taken to hospital but was back at Gillman before the meeting finished, suffering a fractured left collar bone.

Derick Thomas, pictured above with Ron Parker, was injured in heat 19 when they spun in turn four and the bike started running backwards towards the fence before tipping over throwing Parker and Thomas to the ground. Unfortunately Thomas was knocked unconscious and when he came too there was concern he’d damaged a vertebra in his neck, hence the lengthy delay before he was taken to hospital, however we are pleased to report he was released from hospital on Sunday morning just suffering bruised shoulders and a stiff neck.