Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/564551
IN THE WIND P30 WHAT'S UP WITH TADDY? Y ou might have noticed (or perhaps more appropriately not noticed) Taddy Blazusiak's name in the results column these days, that's because the extreme off-road star and former EnduroCross Champion has been forced off the bike after being diagnosed with the Epstein Barr Virus not long after competing in the ErzbergRodeo a few months ago. Taddy has been forced to take things easy during the last few months—an essential part of his re- covery from EBV. Feeling far from 100 percent during the closing stages of the SuperEn- duro series, Blazusiak initially thought his fatigue was because of a busy racing schedule. Following his diagnosis with EBV Taddy has been doing all he can to make a quick and full recovery. As a result, he has opted not to race in the upcom- ing Red Bull Megawatt and Red Bull Sea to Sky events. Instead he will focus on his FIM Su- perEnduro title defense, which starts in Lodz, Poland, Decem- ber 5. "Getting EBV has been hor- rible—racing bikes is what I do, so when I'm unable to do that it's tough," Blazusiak said. "As an athlete it's incredibly difficult to understand what's happen- ing with EBV. We understand physical injuries, we understand the process of operations and recovery. But this is has been so different. Thankfully, I'm start- ing to feel better, but it makes no sense to rush things now. I have to say a huge thanks to Dr. Klemens Trieb and his team at the Hospital in Wels, Austria, for helping me. Together with my sponsors we've decided that I will return to racing at the start of the SuperEnduro series in December. "It's really disappointing not to be competing at my race— Red Bull Megawatt—and also to cancel my participation in some other races like Red Bull Sea to Sky. But on the other hand I'm happy that I can still be sup- portive and help KTM, Red Bull, Fox, Airoh, ORLEN, GoPro and POD with PR activities. It will be a new experience for me be at the races but not be racing. After some weeks sat on my couch at home I am happy that step-by-step things are turning around for me. It'll be cool to go back to Poland for Megawatt because I've not been back to Poland for some time. After that I will travel to Canada to support the Red Bull Rocks and Logs event and take care of some PR activities with Fox. I'm using my time to give back to my spon- sors, and looking forward to returning to racing." CN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY KTM IMAGES/FUTURE7MEDIA Taddy Blazusiak has been taking it easy ever since being diagnosed with Epstein Barr Virus.