JAMAICA’S top rider Stefan Chin was left nursing sore ribs, after falling from his Honda CBR 600RR in the first lap of the second Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) motorcycle race at Bushy Park, Barbados last weekend.

Chin’s demise came after he slid in a stream of water, which ran across the track during heavy showers.

The accident also brought down another Jamaican, Halquin ‘Pugu’ Rodney from his Yamaha R6 after he bumped into Craig Atkinson, who had stopped suddenly behind Stephen Vieira upon Chin’s fall.

Medical team at the track responded quickly to the incident and revived Chin who was disoriented after the crash.

“I’m just thankful to be okay, I’m fine now, just a little sore at the ribs, Chin said after receiving treatment. “I didn’t really remember what happened at the time of the accident, but the medical people here are very professional and they tended to me.”

Rodney, whose fall was on the low side, did not receive any injuries from the accident, however oil from his bike leaked considerably on the track, causing marshals to red flag the race.

“I was coming into the corner very hard when the accident happened,” Rodney explained. “At first I didn’t realise that Stefan had fallen and I wanted to jump back on the bike and continue racing, but I couldn’t because of the oil leak,” he said. “Then I noticed Stefan getting up from the ground, but he fell back down and the ambulance took him away,” Rodney added.

The spark plugs on Chin’s Honda were damaged as a result of the spill and a wrecker had to remove the bikes of both Jamaican riders.

Chin finished second in race one and was on course to a first place finish in race two, as he had overtaken Vieira from pole position and was leading the pack when he crashed.

According to medical reports, Chin’s blood pressure increased after the crash but gradually decreased after constant monitoring by the medical team.

In fact, despite pains he was able to enter race three after stretching and ice treatment administered by Michelle Wylde, United States physical therapist and athletic trainer.

“The exercises that Michelle did, and the ice helped, but by race three, I was still feeling bad and although I couldn’t ride competitively, I just entered and rode for points,” said Chin.

He has however put the misfortune behind and is already looking to the next race meet at Dover. “I will be better and will be going for the local Championship in October, the race for the top is really tight,” he said.

Wylde, who was at the track in support of husband, Justin Wylde, one of David Summerbell Jr’s technicians, believes that Chin’s injuries will heal quickly, as there were no fractures.

“Based on my physical assessment, there were no signs of a fracture but his ribs were dislocated and I mobilised them by using his own muscles to get the ribs back in place,” said Wylde.

Meanwhile, although both Rodney and Chin started from the back in race three, Rodney finished third, from 11 starters.

“I had to work my way up from the back; I don’t think I could beat the guys as they were too far in front,” said Rodney.

At the same time Chin expressed gratitude to Rodney for his team spirit in ensuring that he was okay and commended him for a great ride. “I respect Pugu for how he rode, he did a great job and he is a very talented rider and a great teammate,” he said.

— Kesi Asher