KEY POINTS:
Two-time women's world motocross champion Kiwi Katherine Prumm is on her way home from Europe after a training accident that shattered her collarbone in four places.
The 19-year-old defending champion was already battling a ruptured ACL sustained at the beginning of the season and ignoring surgery, had continued to race through the pain barrier. Having a self-proclaimed high pain threshold helps in overcoming the odds but even Prumm admitted this latest injury was a bridge too far.
"It's been one of those years so far and at each round something's happened," said Prumm. "First my knee, then my wrist at the second round, and now my collarbone. Everything was 100 per cent perfect at the start [of the season] then it started to go wrong. And it seems that when I do get injured, I do a really good job of it. I'll definitely come back stronger next year and will be even more determined."
The championship increases from five rounds this year to 10 in 2009 and Prumm's competitors will have to make most of her forced absence this year. They'll be scratching their collective heads wondering how to beat a fully fit Prumm when an injured one can top the point's table. So, on the bright side, Prumm leaves Europe the championship leader.
"Going out on top is great, no one can take that away from me," she said.
"I'm lucky I'm in peak condition as the doctor said that would help me recover. The plan is also to get my knee done while I can't ride and concentrate on getting both injuries' rehab out of the way at the same time."
Prumm was determined to win three world titles on the trot. Three on the spin is not an option now but to Prumm it's just a matter of when she wins a third world title, not if.
While fortune appears to have abandoned Prumm for 2008, it has finally smiled on another Kiwi's effort for a world title. Josh Coppins has clawed his way back into contention for the world MX1 title after a steady but unspectacular start to a season dogged with bad luck.
"Things are looking pretty good now," said Coppins. "The start of the season was rough carrying an injury and the other guys had me on the ropes for a little bit there but now I've got them back in sight and I'm feeling really good and looking forward to the weekend."
Coppins severely damaged his toes in a training accident at the beginning of the season and had to patiently work his way back to full fitness. Not only was he behind the eight ball when it came to being physically prepared for races, he also missed valuable time in getting the bike set up.
"I'm 100 per cent now and right on top of my game. My riding and condition are good and over the next three rounds I'm really looking forward to getting more points on these guys," he said.
David Philippaerts, Steve Ramon and Ken de Dycker have all been on top of their game. However, in motocross something is bound to happen at sometime and Coppins knew if he kept in the hunt, one or more of them would have a bad day and he would pounce.
At the last round in France, Philippaerts and co fell off the perch allowing Coppins to get right back into the game. He has climbed to third, just 19 points behind leader Philippaerts.
"The bike's really good and I've been in Italy doing a lot of work with the team," said Coppins. "I needed that bit of sun on the horizon and now I'm right back in it."
The next round is this weekend in Germany.
