VOL. 52 ISSUE 35 SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 P33
DARCY WARD UPDATE
Z
ielona Gora doctor Robert
Zapotoczny says Australian
World Speedway star Darcy
Ward's condition has improved,
but no further details on his inju-
ries have been released.
The 23-year-old's father,
George, called for the rider
and his family's privacy to be
respected as he recovers from
serious spinal injuries sustained
in an awkward crash at Zielona
Gora on Sunday August 23.
The incident has left Ward
with no lower body feeling, and
he underwent a wrist operation
on Tuesday.
He revealed the rider's health
has improved since Monday and
said having 2012 World champ
Chris Holder and Davey Watt at
Ward's bedside had given the
Queenslander a real lift.
"His father gave no permis-
sion to reveal any specific infor-
mation. George Ward asked me
for forbearance because of the
family's pain.
"The condition of Darcy is bet-
ter than on Monday. His mental
condition especially is better
and he doesn't need so much
pain relief right now. Davey Watt
and Chris Holder are constantly
by his side to support him, so
Darcy is even able to smile
sometimes."
Zapotoczny says doctors
should get a greater idea of
Ward's prognosis in the coming
months.
"The case is difficult, but
there is a glimmer of hope," he
said. "Hope you cannot take
from anybody. Now Darcy faces
a very, very intensive process
of rehabilitation; psychologically
and physically."
Ward was flown back to the
UK Thursday August 29 on a
private medical flight to an undis-
closed hospital for his condition
to be re-evaluated.
An official account was set
up for those who would like to
support Ward's rehabilitation,
which requires private treatment
as the NHS (the British National
Health System) did not have
space available. To donate click
here: https://pledgie.com/
campaigns/30061 CN
while he was left in limbo.
He was rapped on the knuck-
les for what, in these sanitized
times, passed for inflammatory
remarks, then kept on anyway.
"It's good to get that out of
the way," said Smith. "MotoGP
is hard enough without having to
have meetings and worry about
your future."
Crutchlow's position had been
even less clear-cut after a fresh
scandal struck the team's chief
sponsor CWM boss Anthony
Constantinou.
Thus it was something of a
relief when he signed up for a
further two years on the Honda
with LCR.
"It's fantastic news for me,"
said Crutchlow, for whom the
Honda RC213V is his third dif-
ferent bike in as many years.
"Consistency is the key—the
front riders now have all stayed
with the same teams for a length
of time."
Michael Scott
Bradley Smith finally
secured his ride
with Monster Tech 3
squad.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
