Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
It’s been a long time coming, but I finally got the okay from my team of doctors and therapists to get back on the bike in a couple of weeks. That does not mean that the hard work is over. It will be a long road to being back to 100%, but I am happy about this next step. It seems like forever since I swung my leg over a dirt bike. The thought of having double ACL surgery done at the same time wasn’t ideal, and the process hasn’t been the most fun I’ve ever had, that’s for sure! But, after all the racing last season, it was time for me to get this done. Throughout the process, the one thing that kept me motivated was the fact of how good my knees will feel come the start of the 2023 season.
That being said, it has been a long road on the recovery side. Going from basically not being able to move my legs to being able to go 100% on a dirt bike is going to take some time. We all know how hard this sport is on the body, and throughout the recovery process, we have all kept that in mind. We have been extremely cautious to not aggravate the knee too much, but we also had to focus on getting it ready for the pounding it will eventually take when it’s time to get back on the bike. I honestly can’t thank my trainer and physiotherapist enough for always finding the happy medium and keeping me pushing forward without overdoing it. We have been working very closely together, even though sometimes the drive from Drummondville to Ottawa could have been better (laughs). During my long recovery, we have focused on strengthening the legs as much as possible. The idea behind this is that these muscles will protect my knee from future injury once I begin riding again. I’m stronger now than I was before, thanks to this extra bit of time to lift a little heavier in the gym.
Now it is time to get these knees used to taking some pounding and get some active movement incorporated into my training program. This is to ensure that when I get on the bike it isn’t such a shock for the body. You can definitely believe me when I say we are doing everything possible to make the transition to riding the easiest it can be. I will continue to work on strength and mobility until I eventually head to Florida on Feb 21st. When I get to Florida, we will be using my riding as a part of the rehabilitation process. What this means is that I will start super light with my riding and work up from there. It will be very important not to overdo the first couple of weeks. This will be tough for me as I love to grind as hard as possible on the bike. Obviously, this adjustment won’t be easy, but I will have to remind myself that this is part of the process.
Speaking of down south. I am super excited about our plans this winter. I will head to the Dade City area to train at Jett and Hunter Lawrence’s compound. This happens to be Chad Reed’s old compound! You can only imagine the history at this place. It will definitely be fun to hang out with all the guys training there. They, of all people, definitely share that passion for winning! That’s precisely the people I want to surround myself with. When they switch over to outdoor training, it will be fun to chase them around, and I think we can definitely benefit from riding together as a group. Maybe they will even throw a couple of parts my way (laughs).
Lastly, I will be at the Toronto Motorcycle Show at the Honda booth this coming weekend. This is a very cool event as you will see all the new models and products for the new year. It’s been a few years since this show has taken place, so it will be great to see everyone. So, come to the Enercare Centre this weekend, come by the Honda booth, and grab an autograph. Also, today is opening day at Gopher Dunes, so spring must be getting close.
