VOLUME 59 ISSUE 8 FEBRUARY 23, 2022 P25
Steward Baylor, Duvall, Girroir
Injured At GNCC Opener
A
MA National Enduro Champi-
on Steward Baylor, Rockstar
Energy Husqvarna's Thad Duvall
and Coastal GasGas Factory
Racing's Jonathan Girroir offered
updates regarding their injuries
suffered at the opening round of
the 2022 GNCC Series in Union,
South Carolina, February 20.
Steward crashed late in the
race while make a bid for a po-
dium finish. The AmPro Yamaha
Team rider reported on social
media, "A simple line change
caused me to hit a hidden
stump. I wrecked and immedi-
ately couldn't feel anything… it
terrified me, but then I regained
consciousness and feeling in my
legs. Was able to get back on
the bike to finish the final eight
miles of the race. I was definitely
sore, blurry visioned, but I knew
I could still salvage points and
I knew I could never live with
myself if I didn't keep going. Little
did I know that decision was bor-
derline life threatening. Days like
today remind me that God is real.
My C7 vertebrae is broken near
my artery, but luckily, I did no
damage to it, even after finish-
ing the race. The doctors were
shocked that it didn't displace
with the continued stress that I
caused finishing the race. I am
very lucky but definitely still in
shock of the events that unfolded
in today's final lap.
"We won't know for certain
if we will need surgery until
tomorrow, but I've been moved
to a hospital with a good trauma
center, and they are taking care
of us so far."
It is not yet known how long
Baylor will be out of action.
Duvall also went down after
hitting a tree stump early in the
race. According to his Rockstar
Energy Husqvarna Team, Duvall
suffered multiple injuries to his
hip and pelvis and will undergo
surgery, Tuesday, February 22.
Coastal GasGas Factory
Racing's Girroir reported having
fractured the "iliac crest" on the
left side of his pelvis "in several
places." The defending GNCC
XC2 250 Pro Champion, Gir-
roir, also thanked everyone that
helped him out of the woods and
followed up by saying, "I will be
back."
CN
Steward Baylor was one
of several top riders who
suffered serious injury at
the GNCC opener in South
Carolina.
PHOTO: KEN HILL
