“
It was one
of those
situations
where
everything
was
happening
so quickly,
and I knew
something
was wrong
for sure, but
I didn’t know
exactly what
Leon firstly how are you after your
accident? How long until we can expect to see
you back on a bike?
I’m feeling better each day after the
accident, it’s going to take some time
to come good - to be strong enough
to ride again - but definitely feeling
better. It’s quite hard - when it’s your
ribs, your muscles are contracting to
protect those ribs, and other things
become a problem as it’s pulling you
out of balance. Other ribs sort of pop
out at the top of my rib cage. I’m hoping to be back in Imola (which
will be less than four weeks from the
accident). The Doctors aren’t quite so
sure that’s possible, but we will have
to see a bit nearer the time. If recovery
keeps going as good as it is, then I
would hope to be back for Imola.
I think with a bit of time it will all fall
back into place. I gave my shoulder
a good whack as well - I’ve started
physio on it over the last few days and
every day is feeling better.
What actually happened in the
incident?
I’m not exactly sure what happened in
the crash.
I felt I was getting on the gas nice and
gently, to start to build momentum
and load the rear tyre. Then it started
to come around with me, so I came off
the gas and stood the bike upright to
try and compensate for it - as you do
- but it didn’t come back to me at all,
which was a little bit strange.
It kept coming around - it was all in
slow motion really - I had enough time
to think maybe there was something
wrong, so it’s something we need
to go over and really understand. It
didn’t feel like rider error or even an
electronic issue. It felt like a really
strange crash, so it’s something we
need to investigate some more.
What goes through your mind when
you are laid up in the gravel after a
huge crash like that?
When I was laid in the gravel trap I
didn’t really know what had happened,
or that I’d been run over. I just felt the
impact of everything, I think I was in a
bit of shock as well. I couldn’t breathe
to start with, and that was one of the
most horrible things.
As soon as I managed to get my
breath back, I was just in massive
amounts of pain. It was one of those
situations where everything was
happening so quickly, and I knew
something was wrong for sure, but
I didn’t know exactly what. It was
my back and neck that were hurting
the most, so they just put me on a
stretcher and carted me off.
On that note, it has been a fantastic
start to the season, a shock for
many given that Honda have been
in the doldrums during recent years
in WSBK. I take it you are enjoying
riding the Honda?
To be honest, I am really enjoying the
Honda. It’s got a lot of really good
characteristics to it; I have a really
good feeling with the bike. There are
a lot of strong points, but at the same
time there are quite a few weaknesses
that we need to work on.
The good thing is that there’s room
to improve those weak areas, so it
gives us a lot of confidence that we
can keep improving over the rest of
the season. The team have been really
good, really professional and very
proactive in making steps forward, so
all in all I’m really happy and looking
forward to the rest of the year.
How much of the credit can
you take for the turn-around in
fortunes? And don’t be modest -
you have been fast from your very
first test on the bike!
To be honest, it was a little bit
strange - when I first got on the bike
it obviously hadn’t been performing
all year. There were a few things that
were out: the way the electronics
were working, for me the way the
throttle response was, and how it was
reacting when you opened the gas. It
was really strange, and it’s something
we worked on changing throughout
the first test. We pretty much just
concentrated on that, without getting
too involved in chassis settings or
anything like that, and we still ended
up going fast.
For sure there were still many things
that needed to be improved upon,
but fundamentally it was just a case
of understanding the bike. I think
they had gone in the wrong direction,
maybe down to rider preference or
what the rider was asking for, but that
wasn’t fast in my opinion. u