SRG Specialist Risk Group - MotorcycleRaceParts | BSB - Brands Hatch GP 2024
Painful Weekend for Tunstall
An infection to a previous injury was to dictate Tom Tunstall’s Brands Hatch weekend and despite his best efforts the deteriorating condition meant he had to withdraw from the event for hospital treatment.
Having missed both races at the previous Snetterton round following a qualifying crash. Yorkshireman Tom Tunstall was keen to bounce back at Brands Hatch in the first of two visits to the Kent track this season.
Despite issues in the opening session he was third fastest of the Supersport cup contenders after practice.
However during Friday evening pain and swelling started to develop on his right elbow.
Overnight the condition worsened which made Saturday’s qualifying an unpleasant experience taking 7th of the cup riders but certainly far from his best form.
Help from the BSB medical team diagnosed that a small puncture wound from the Snetterton crash 2 weeks earlier had become infected.
Prescribed and sourcing antibiotics that morning the SRG [Specialist Risk Group] backed rider took to the grid for Saturday’s sprint race and brought the bike home 7th of the cup riders but in a lot of pain.
Hopes of the antibiotics helping overnight were dashed early on Sunday morning as the infection and swelling had spread further. Another trip to the BSB Medical centre confirmed he wasn’t fit to ride and required hospital treatment.
Returning to Yorkshire Sunday evening he was admitted directly into hospital and hooked up to intravenous antibiotic treatment.
His condition improved and was released from hospital late Tuesday evening.
Tunstall explained:
“Firstly I’m very grateful to all the BSB medical team, we are very fortunate to have those guys and facilities on site. Plus the NHS staff whose help and guidance have helped save the situation getting further out of control.
In hindsight it may not have been my best decision to race on Saturday but I didn’t realise at the time and always a tough call to make. It was very painful and as my right arm movement was limited I didn’t feel fully in control of the bike, so couldn’t ride anything like I know I can, it certainly wasn’t fun either!
It was clear as soon as I got up on Sunday that it was a non-starter. From then the priority has been getting sorted before the infection got into my bone and caused lasting damage. Fortunately the hospital treatment went well and after a couple of days the swelling has come down significantly. I’m continuing the treatment at home and working on mobility to try and get the full moment back in the arm.
I’m just taking it day by day at the moment and focus on the daily progress. Hopefully without any complications and as it gets closer we’ll make a call on the next round at Thruxton.
It fair to say it’s not been a smooth season so far. I’ve not had the opportunity to get any momentum going and get into a groove yet. With all the dramas that’s happened at each event we just need to catch up breath, regroup and come back with the goal of getting some consistency and confidence to allow me to ride as I know I can and enjoy going around in circles on a Sunday again!
The next round, fitness permitting is held at the ultra fast Thruxton circuit over the weekend of 9th-11th August.
