Steve Mercer, the Maidstone-based former 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:road racer, has an𝓀nounced that he is preparing to ride a motorcycle for the first time since 2018.

Mercer hasn’t ridden since he crashed at the 2018 Isle of Man TT with a course car𓂃, meaning it will have been around seven years since his last ride when he climbs aboard the Honda CBR1000RR-R that he has recently purchased.

In🍬 the crash, Mercer sustained multiple injuries, including pelvic fractures, a broken larynx, a punctured lung, and fractures to both his spine and right femur. The injuries left him in hospital for five months.

“Honestly I can’t put into words how good th༺is feels,” Mercer wrote in an Instagram post.

“I’ve just brought this 2021 Firebla💙de and I feel like I’ve hit a massive milestone. I’ve not been on a Superbike for seven years but I’ve always believed tha𝕴t one day I’ll ride again.

“I certainly wasn’t 💮going to let that crash in 2018 end all.

“I don’t know where this will go, if it’ll just be a ride out at Brand🐠s Hatch to end it how I wanted or if I start riding again regularly.”

Mercer’s injuries initially saw him lose 10cm in height, but that has since been𒊎 reduced tꦕo 3cm from his pre-injury height.

He also lost function in his right leg, and therefore will require modifications to the motorcycle in order to💝 ride.

“I need to change a few bits like fit a power shifter so I can change gear on the handlebars, find a way to clip feet o👍n foot rests and get some riding kit sorted but once I’ve got the bike ready I’m going to book in to Brands Hatch for a day,” he said.

The c👍hoice of the Fireblade was one based on a sense of loyalty to Honda, Mercer explained.

“Hondas were always my favourite bikes when I 🍃was racing,” he said, explainingꦛ his choice of motorcycle in an interview .

“When it all went wrong and I was in hospital in Liverpool for five🐼 months, Honda themselves phoned my wife Caroline and asked if there was anything she needed, and they paid for a massive chunk of the hotel bill for the whole time that Caroline stayed in Liverpool.

“I just feel loyal to the brand because I was contracted to them twice – once in 2016 when I did World Endღurance with John McGuinness and Conor Cummins, and then again unfortunately when it went wrong.”

He added:  “For me, I’ve always felt that the storꦕy hasn’t got an end, and I’ve always wanted cl𝓀osure to the story.

“When ⭕I was in hospital many people said to me ‘You won’t ever ride a bike again,’ and looking back I don’t know if the doctors and nurses used to say that to motivate me to prove them🐲 wrong.

“That’s how I to♚ok it, because I thought I’m just going to prove you wrong.”