2011 AMA Motocross
Last week, factory KTM reported that its holeshot star Andrew Short will miss the remainder of the 2011 AMA Motocross Championship due to injuries sustained while training.
But things got worse for KTM…on Friday, it was reported that JDR/J-Star/KTM’s PJ Larsen will not compete in the remaining four AMA Motocross races due to a neck injury sustained prior to Unadilla MX.
Larsen had returned to the outdoor MX series at Millville in Mid-July after sitting out the first half of the series with an scaphoid fracture on his right wrist. But just as the KTM SX-F 350 rider was healing, Larsen fell hard during practice for Unadilla Motocross, but later decided to race.
PJ Larsen (JDR/J-Star KTM SX-F350) says: “My neck was sore but I figured I just kinked it and it would heal by Unadilla. I took some aspirin and made a last minute decision to race Unadilla.”
Larsen eventually felt pain during the first moto, and his pace quickly slowed. He was then evaluated by his doctor on Monday, where it was discovered he cracked his C-4, C-5 and C-6 vertebrae in his neck and would be advised to take a minimum of six weeks off from riding.
PJ Larsen says: “I can’t believe that I was able to race after finding out that my neck was cracked. I also can’t believe the bad luck I have had with injuries this year. After winning two Championships in Australia in 2010, I was hoping to have a great season in America and am upset that I haven’t been able to complete a season yet.
“I plan to rest the next few weeks to allow my neck to heal and then begin working hard on Supercross testing to be prepared for the opening round at Anaheim.”
