CONOR CUMMINS PRAISES MARSHALS AND MEDICS WHO HAVE HELPED HIM FOLLOWING DAINESE SENIOR TT ACCIDENT TT rider Conor Cummins, has praised the marshals and medics who helped him at the scene. Conor who came off at the Verandah on the mountain section of the course in the Dainese TT Race on the Isle of Man on Friday 11th June, is recovering in Nobles Hospital on the Isle of Man. He said: “I don’t know the names of the people who helped me but the marshals and medics were superb from the moment I had the accident. I’d also like to thank all of the staff in the Accident and Emergency Ward at Nobles Hospital who have been brilliant since I arrived.” Conor has sustained a back injury, a fractured arm, a dislocated knee and bruising to the lungs. He also wants to thank all the members of the public for their kind messages of support. He said: “I have been really heartened to receive lots of cards and goodwill messages. I’ve even received toys from children which is very kind.” Although Conor will not compete again this season he is determined to return to racing as soon as possible. He said, “I know that I have a lot of hard work ahead of me this winter but I will be doing everything I can to be fully fit and competitive for the start of next season.” Sidecar passenger Joseph Shardlow is described as comfortable and improving while Pete Alton requires further treatment on a leg injury. Guy Martin will probably be discharged from hospital either today or tomorrow. Karsten Schmidt has been transferred to a hospital in Germany. More, from a press release issued by Conor Cummins’ publicist: Cummins thanks marshals and medics and vows to return stronger in 2011 Manxman Conor Cummins has praised the marshals and medics who attended to him after his heavy crash at the Verandah in last week’s Senior TT and says he has a long road to recovery, thus confirming his 2010 racing season is over. The 24-year old sustained a badly broken left arm, fractures to bones in his back, a dislocated knee and ligament damage, bruising to his lungs and a hairline fracture to his pelvis in the spill before being airlifted to Noble’s Hospital. The crash occurred on the second lap of the Senior race, which was restarted, ironically, after a heavy crash involving Conor’s good friend Guy Martin, who fortunately escaped serious injury. In the re-start, a lap of 131.123mph saw Conor slot into third place just over two seconds off the race lead. By Ramsey on lap two, he was up to second and still only three seconds adrift of race leader Ian Hutchinson only for his crash to occur just a few miles later on the high speed right hand bends at the Verandah. “I don’t know the names of the people who helped me but the marshals and medics were superb from the moment I had the accident. I’d also like to thank all of the staff in the Accident and Emergency Ward at Noble’s Hospital who have been brilliant since I arrived,” said Cummins. “I know that I have a lot of hard work ahead of me this winter but I will be doing everything I can to be fully fit and competitive for the start of next season.” The Ramsey resident also wanted to thank all the members of the public for their kind messages of support adding, “I have been really heartened by all the cards and messages of support and I’ve even received toys from young children, which has also been very kind.” It had been a mixed race week for Conor prior to Senior race day with both highs and lows in his previous four races on the McAdoo Racing Kawasaki’s. The low came in the opening Superbike race which he seemingly had in the bag. Two laps in excess of 131mph, including a stunning opening lap of 131.511mph (the second fastest of all time and just a fraction outside the outright lap record), helped him seize control and with a lead of over 20 seconds, everything was looking good for his debut TT win. However, the machine refused to fire after his second pit stop and he saw his lead reduced to just four seconds but he then reluctantly had to retire on the fifth lap at Laurel Bank with engine problems. The Superstock race saw Conor have his best result of the week as he took his third TT podium with an excellent third place, a best lap of 129.309mph helping him move up to third place on the second lap, a position he maintained until the chequered flag. In the two Supersport races, Conor took a solid eighth in the first four-lapper and followed this up with a fighting sixth in the second, just 0.23s behind John McGuinness, also recording his first 125mph+ lap in the class. Conor will continue to receive treatment in Noble’s Hospital although he may be transferred to a UK hospital, either Liverpool or Manchester, later this week for orthopaedic specialist care – further updates will be issued at a later date.