After a long recovery from a serious leg injury, Tommy Hill will finally make his 2008 World Supersport debut next time out in Germany on June 15.
Hill - who rode for Yamaha in BSB and the final rounds of WSS last season - fractured his hip, femur, ankle and hand in a mysterious accident during his test debut for Hannspree Honda Althea at Calafat last November.
A complicated recovery and rehabilitation has kept the young Briton a frustrated spectator ever since, but he's now looking forward to getting back into action at round six of 13 (the WSS class won't be present at the forthcoming US round)...
Q:
Tommy, are the bad times over for you now?
Tommy Hill:
An injury like mine, which made me miss the first five rounds hasn't been easy and I'm not happy at missing out on important testing with my team. I wanted to start the season with high hopes of winning races, but I'll be fit for Nurburgring.
Q:
What do you remember of your crash in Calafat?
Tommy Hill:
It was not a crash that I wanted to remember. The only thing I remember was my leg spinning around, and from there I knew I had a big problem. I honestly thought I had lost my leg. I was so disappointed and also annoyed that I wouldn't be able to start the season with Hannspree Honda Althea.
Q:
How is your physical condition now?
Tommy Hill:
Having x-rays taken every 2 weeks, I'm nearly turning green with radiation but it's allowed my doctor and I to see exactly how my leg is healing. My doctor has been fantastic, and understands that I am a motorcycle racer not a belly dancer, and that I need to be back on the track as soon as possible. But as you can imagine this is a very serious break in an important part of my body. Anyway I have been training in the gym seven days a week, trying to get back to full fitness. I have started cycling again to get strength back into my leg, and I'm now ready for Germany.
Q:
What do you think about this year's Supersport World Championship?
Tommy Hill:
The racing this year has been very fast and good to watch. The race in Assen is what Supersport is all about, very fast and close up racing which I like and miss, that is why I need to get back on the track.
