News 15 Jul 2018

Ranch MX injuries season-ending for Gibbs

Concussion sidelines KTM teammate Mastin in disastrous New South Wales round.

Image: Foremost Media.

Kirk Gibbs’ woes continued at this weekend’s Pirelli MX Nationals double-header hosted by Ranch MX in New South Wales, calling for a premature end to his season.

After being forced out of the previous round with a back injury, Gibbs was hopeful of making it through the weekend in Raymond Terrace. It was positive start after he claimed Super Pole, however a hole-shot in the opening moto quickly turned to disaster, as a slight off-track excursion resulted in a heavy fall.

The KTM Motocross Racing Team rider was attended to by Racesafe, and was later diagnosed with multiple fractures to his finger, shoulder and ribs, while also amplifying his existing back injury.

“I won’t make it back for any more motocross rounds,” Gibbs confirmed to MotoOnline.com.au. “That’s me definitely done for the season. It sucks, it’s been a long time since I haven’t finished a motocross series, and it’s obviously really frustrating for me.

“I guess it does happen every now and then, it was just unfortunately one of those things. From last week to this week were battling trying to get through it, but it’s all obviously come to an end this weekend.”

In a bittersweet weekend for the factory KTM outfit that saw Luke Clout claim a career-first MX1 race win, defending MX2 champion Egan Mastin also endured a heavy fall in the opening affair on the final lap while running in third, suffering a concussion in the process.

The New South Welshman, who was debuting the 2019-spec KTM 250 SX-F, will undergo further evaluation this week, however is likely to return for Gladstone’s penultimate round on 5 August in Queensland.

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