By Roddy Brooks
May 10 2005

The organisers of the British Masters Motocross series have issued the following statement, after they called off the second round of the series during the second day on Sunday, 8th of May 2005. “The second round of the British Masters Motocross series, at Hawkstone Park, had to be cut short following a discussion with the attending medical staff at the circuit. The nearest hospital, at Shrewsbury, contacted the organisers, through the medical staff at the circuit, to advise they were running at capacity on Sunday
afternoon.

“The management of the hospital at Shrewsbury informed the organises they had no alternative than to refer any future injured riders from the event to the next nearest hospital with a trauma unit, which was at Stoke. This would have involved a 45 minute journey by ambulance, and the event organisers found it unacceptable to run the risk of riders having to take a longer than necessary journey to hospital.

“In the case of a serious injury, the difference in journey times could have been the difference between life and death. The local NHS ambulance service also advised the organisers that they were also running at capacity, and could not guarantee any future injured riders would be collected from the circuit without delay.

“One rider suffered a serious injury on Saturday. The air ambulance was called out to take the injured rider to hospital at Stoke. Thanks to the prompt actions of the medical team at the track, and the air ambulance, this rider was taken to Stoke hospital where he underwent an operation. He is now out of intensive care and is expected to make a full recovery.

“The results of the races which were run up until the event was stopped counted towards the overall results on the weekend, and will also count towards the championships.”