Success & failure in ample doses for Stephen Sword aboard the Buildbase CCM
Swordy’s return to racing after crashing out at Desert Martin where he dislocated his shoulder and damaged his ankle was always going to be a tough call. Just 4 weeks after sustaining his shoulder and ankle injury Stephen Sword battled to gain enough fitness to pose a serious threat at his ‘home’ circuit. Stephen rode just twice in the week and took the decision he could race to win even though he was not 100% fit. Stephen did not disappoint his fans at the famous GP track and after a cautious qualifying session where he finished 5th, come race 1 Swordy had no intentions of letting himself or his fans down by storming to a convincing win over series leader Brad Anderson. Stephen Sword came down the valley on the first lap in the lead with Anderson in hot pursuit. After a couple of laps Stephen Sword let Anderson through and that’s where they stayed for most of the race with Stephen stalking Anderson, rattling him in to making mistakes lap after lap. With 2 laps to go, Sword pounced and overtook the Maxxis leader with ease and took a well deserved chequered flag much to the delight of his fans and all the Buildbase CCM crew.
Race 2 and all was set for another remarkable comeback ride from the determined Scot. Stephen didn’t disappoint and within the first lap he’d pulled away from the chasing pack with Anderson in hot pursuit. The two pulled away and with Swordy in control at the head of the field all looked good for a remarkable double win until halfway distance when Stephen clouted his damaged ankle on one of the many rutted berms. In excruciating pain Stephen slowed dramatically allowing Anderson to cruise past without a challenge, Sword continued to coast round back to the pits where he had to be helped off the bike, his race was over and so was the weekend as the pain was too much and he decided he couldn’t race in the 3rd leg. His mechanic Ryan Thorpe summed up the weekend that promised so much by saying ‘seems like if we didn’t have bad luck we would have no luck at all!’
Stephen undergoes a scan this week to find out the true extent of the injury he’s been carrying since Desert Martin, his participation at the next Red Bull being in serious jeopardy. However the seasoned GP runner and former British Champion is no stranger to injuries and we all hope to see him fit and well very soon, challenging for more race wins before the end of the season.
Ends.