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Troy crashes on the final day

Posted by Kenn Stamp
Friday, 30 November 2007
TROY HAPPY, DESPITE ANOTHER CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH THE GRAVEL! Troy's dreams of posting a 1:57 lap on the final day at Qatar vanished when he crashed in the morning session. He had posted a 1:58.5 without any difficulty, but then tested a new front tyre - the hardest Pirelli available - and that was the cause of his downfall. On the first left-hander of the lap, Troy lost the front and crashed, sliding into the gravel trap in the process. If the gravel had been like other racetracks, Troy would've probably got away unscathed, but the Losail gravel traps are filled with stones and when Troy hit these, he was given a severe battering. Fortunately no bones were broken, but he suffered massive bruising to his backside, lower back and also the same hand he hurt yesterday. Troy wanted to go out in the final session this afternoon but was unable to get his gloves on, so he and the team decided to call it a day. Troy That was a shame, because I really felt a 1:57 was possible. Things were going well this morning until I went out to test the hardest tyre Pirelli brought here. I guess I got got out, but you have to push in order to find out the limits. I lost the front at the first left-hander and once you do that here there is no grip off-line and you crash. Normally, I'd be able to pick it up on my knee, but because of the lack of grip I couldn't do that. I thought I'd finish on the tarmac, but my corner speed was enough to carry me into the gravel and that's what caused the battering. I feel like I've been run over by a truck - twice! I would've got away with that kind of crash at any other track, but here it's not so much gravel as rocks! I've got a nice pair of bruises on my backside, not that anybody but the doctor was interested! I was sore this morning after yesterday's crash, but now I'm more sore! But the good news is that I'm content with what we've done and achieved during this test. I reckon we've pretty much gone through everything we had to. I would've liked to have done some more work on the same things in some areas, but we've covered all the basics. I now feel that the bike is working better with me now and I'm looking forward to the next test and the season ahead - after I've sorted out my bruises of course!

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