Baggett Good To Go
I
t looks as though Blake Baggett
will be good to go for this
weekend's eighth round of the
Monster Energy AMA Super-
cross Series in Arlington (Dallas),
Texas, February 22.
The Rocky Mountain ATV-
MC/WPS KTM Team rider was
a no-show for the 450SX main
event at last weekend's Tampa
Supercross after having qualified
for the feature race earlier in the
evening heat race. It was during
that race, however, that Baggett
suffered a hard get-off and was
struck by another rider while on
the ground. That impact resulted
in severe whiplash. However, he
was able to remount and finish
the race in eighth place, good
enough to qualify for the main
event.
According to the team, after
returning to the team hauler
after the race, Baggett's neck
and upper back muscles began
to spasm and lock up from the
whiplash. Within a 20-minute
period and roughly 15 minutes
before the start of the 450SX
main event, the muscle spasms
and pain had rapidly escalated
to a point where Baggett could
not hold his head up. After trying
everything within the team and
Baggett's power, the team made
a the decision that it would be
impossible for him to complete
the race and decided it was not
worth the risk of furthering injury,
while at the same time not know-
ing the extent of what could have
also been an already potential
injury.
Baggett returned home to see
his doctor, Monday, February
17. Luckily, there was no bone,
ligament or tendon damage, nor
any injury of that matter past a
severe case of whiplash and
muscle sprains. Baggett says
he plans to take the week very
lightly in order to be ready for the
Arlington Supercross and round
two of this season's Triple Crown
series. CN
IN
THE
WIND
P50
After sitting out
the 450SX main
event at the Tampa
Supercross,
Blake Baggett is
expected to be
back for the next
round in Texas.
PHOTO: KIT PALMER
