Copyright 2017, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
Cambr/YCRS/Lucas Oil/KWR Yamaha Superbike rider/team owner Kyle Wyman missed Saturday’s MotoAmerica Superbike/Superstock 1000 Race One at Barber Motorsports Park and he will miss Sunday’s race as well, but he’s okay with that.
Wyman’s okay with that because he’s just happy to be walking and talking after suffering a complete brake failure entering Turn One at 150 mph during Free Practice Three Saturday morning and crashing hard into inflatable soft barriers.
Asked what happen, Wyman said, “I lost my brakes, just a mechanical failure. These things happen. It’s scary when it does. The brake pads came out of the caliper on the front straightaway. I just went for the brakes in Turn One and there was nothing. All of a sudden I’m already at the curb and I’m still doing 140+ mph.
“I had the rear brake on and I was able to get the thing to lowside and separate [myself] from the bike. It felt like from the track to the wall it felt like I covered 10 feet because I was going so fast. I’m so lucky that it wasn’t worse, that I was able to get off the bike and there was Airfence there. I just sat there for a minute just in disbelief at what just happened.”
Asked about his impact with the inflatable soft barriers, Wyman said, “I went into the Airfence with my upper back and head [first]. I hit it flat with my back but my legs were in front of me, so it ended up tackling me. My legs hit above my head almost. It folded me in half when I hit it, and I instantly felt the pain in my middle back.”
Wyman walked into an ambulance dispatched to the scene, but he was transported to a local hospital where X-rays revealed he had suffered a fracture to his T6 vertebra, which will be allowed to heal naturally.
“I’m done [for the weekend], but at least I’m here,” said Wyman. “Seriously, that was the scariest. It’s 150 mph at the end of that straightaway. The bike was still in fourth gear [when they picked it up]. I didn’t even get a downshift. Not to mention you’re going downhill. I don’t know what to say. I’m just so lucky.”
The soft barriers that Wyman hit were purchased by the Roadracing World Action Fund for deployment by MotoAmerica. The Roadracing World Action Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission of helping to prevent injuries at motorcycle racetracks by advocating and facilitating the use of soft barriers in front of walls and other hard objects. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Roadracing World Action Fund, go to www.roadracingworld.com/actionfund.