We recently caught up with Team Green's own Justin Summers to see how
the Florida native has been handling his down time while rehabbing a
broken wrist. With high expectations for himself going into this season,
biding his time has been challenging for the young man from Milton whose
battery never runs down.Justin, give us a recap of your
injury.
I was racing
the Whitney Warm up race before the Nationals and broke my wrist. It was
broken and dislocated and deformed looking. It was nasty.
What has your rehab been like ?
BORING. I started going back to the gym after I got my short
cast off three weeks ago so I've been able to stay on top of my cardio,
and core training, but just can't do anything with my left arm yet.
I've been skateboarding , which I probably shouldn't be doing, but I
can't just sit and do nothing. I've even tried riding a little but the
braking bumps hurt my wrist.
How has it been for you being off the bike for so long ?
one word. HORRIBLE.
How tuff was it to miss the Texas nationals ?
Kawasaki was bringing me a new 250F and a 125 to Texas so my dad
and I went back out there just to watch and to pick up my bikes. It
made me sick to watch my class knowing that I couldn't be out there, so
a lot of times, I didn't even watch them. I had been training really
hard and was riding really good before I crashed and I know that I could
have been on that podium. That was the hardest thing about being at the
National and not being able to race it.
This was suppose to be your year, being the senior in the 12-13 age
class. This must be really hard for you ?
Yeah, but I will have other opportunities to
prove myself. It's just all part of racing. Gotta take the good with
the bad.
(For Rhonda) Mom, what has it been like having Justin sidelined with
an injury ?
AWEFUL !!! I wish I had a dollar every time I heard "I'm
Bored". He is the kind of kid that is going non - stop from the time
he gets up until he goes to bed at night. It has been so hard to keep
him off the bike. It's been aweful for me too, because this time of
year is my favorite. We love coming out and staying in Texas before the
Nationals . And after Texas we head on out to California to ride
before Vegas. This is the time of year that he stays the most focused
on his training and that focus carries him into his training program
over the summer for Ponca and Loretta's. He got a short cast three
weeks after the injury and was able to start going to the gym. His
trainer has kept his cardio and strength training going through all of
this, and that has at least given him something to focus on and it
doesn't look like he's missed a beat.
Mom, looking for some sort of silver lining, I guess this is somewhat
of a breather for you and Rodney, not having to travel so much ?
Unfortunately, there is no silver lining when we all love it so
much. I would rather be in the motor home traveling the country with
him all year round. This down time has, however, given Justin and I
a chance to be "mother and son" for a while. I have to be his trainer,
mechanic, driver, nurse, teacher, etc..... I never get the chance to
be "just his mom". We've been able to spend time together that has
nothing to do with motocross and I have really enjoyed him. He's much
nicer when he's not being so hard on himself. :-)
Mom, what have you and Rodney done to keep Justin's spirits up ?
Being the older one in the class this year, he was setting his
goals pretty high and was devastated when all this first happened. We
just kept telling him that he made a statement before he crashed and
that you never lose the ability to go fast. We encouraged him to stay
on top of his cardio so that little would be lost once he returned, and
we've just explained that he has many more years to prove himself. His
dream of racing Pro someday will not be shattered by one little injury
or by missing a couple of Nationals. This armature stuff is just a
stepping stone to where he really wants to go and doesn't mean as much
as everyone thinks it does. Everyone that races has to deal with injury
and down time at some point. It's how you handle it and how you deal
with it mentally that affects your return. We are keeping him positive
and focusing more on 2011 not 2008.
Justin, what activities have you engaged in to keep your mind
preoccupied while healing up ? Have you done anything new and exciting ?
I've been skateboarding (which I'm not supposed to be doing),
fishing a little, and going to the gym. I haven't done anything else
really. Just this past week, I've been able to ride my new 250F and 125
in the back yard to break them in, but I'm not supposed to be doing that
either. sshhhhhhh. Don't tell anyone.
What is the expected date of return ? What will be your first
national this year ?
I'm supposed to get the cast off Monday, April 7th if the
X-rays come out ok. I will start rehab that afternoon with my trainer,
trying to get some of the stiffness worked out and if the doctor
releases me, I will try to race a Loretta Lynn Qualifier the following
weekend. The Dr. had mentioned before that it may be the first of May
before I can ride. We will just have to wait and see what the X-rays
show.
So this won't affect Ponca or Loretta's ?
No. Even if the Dr. doesn't release me until May I will still
have a few weeks of qualifiers I can get to. I guess it just
all depends on how my wrist feels when the cast comes off.
How has Team Green been with your down time ?
Very supportive. Dave called me after I left the ER and talked
to me before I ever made it back to the track. He said that Team
Green was behind me and not to worry about missing the Nationals. He
said that I would have his support no matter what and to worry about
nothing but getting better. They are with me for the long haul, not
for what I may or may not do this year. They are awesome.
Tell us who all is helping you out this year.
Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green, Pro Circuit, Moto-xreport.com
, FLY, Oakley, Gaerne, Dunlop, BRAKING, Factory Backing, Twin Air, RK/Excel,
V-force, Renthal, Cometic Gaskets, Motorsport Products, IMS, Maxima,
Ronnie Tichenor, Jeannie Carmichael, One Vision, Limitless Clothing, EVS,
Mechanix Wear, and My Mom and Dad.
Looking forward to seeing you back in the saddle. Don't rush it !!!
Thanks, Doc !!