Q&A: Mickael Pichon.

Reigning double world 250cc champion Mickael Pichon's hopes of taking the inaugural MX GP crown came to a sudden end at the German Grand Prix, where he seriously injured his knee - ruling him out for the next five months.

He the Frenchman talks about the season so far, the extent of his injury, and his plans for the future...
Q: Mickael, how are you doing and what is the latest news?
Mickael Pichon: I'm pretty good. I'm just waiting now! The first week after the operation things were not so easy, but they never are. It took me a little bit of time to get used to the cast. It's heavy and I have to use crutches to get around because my leg is splinted straight from the ankle to the hip. I have to be like this for another three weeks. It was important for the leg not to be moved at all because the inside of the knee was a real mess. The meniscus was broken and so were some parts of the bone. I could have used a brace but the doctors said that the leg should not be moved at all for at least one month.

I want to follow the programme and advice of the specialists exactly because I do not want to rush the recovery. Something like this can be complicated and I want it to be 100% again. I will put all the odds on my side and not risk any setbacks.
I wont be able to get on a bike for five months and if that is what it takes to return like my old self then I will wait that long, you wont see me out training in four months or before what is completely necessary.

I should be able to walk when the plaster is taken off. The hard part will be the state of the leg. A lot of muscle will be gone and the rehabilitation will be all about flexibility and strength.

I plan to take one month attending a rehab camp in the south of France where I will use a daily structured programme to re-build the leg. These situations can be hard to deal with by yourself and it helps to have someone coaching and pushing you through. I still want to make the best progress possible in the shortest time.
This is the longest period I will have missed off the bike through injury but to be honest I will make the most of it to regain some motivation and enthusiasm.

I pushed myself really hard in 2001 and 2002 and lost some desire for MX. I was even ready to stop at the start of the season. I hope this distance will be good for my mind and set me up strongly for the next three or four years.

When you get hurt you suddenly see the lifestyle you had before and the dissatisfaction doesn't seem that important! I guess the low points really do make you appreciate what you had. This will be a long five months and I hope that the new physical and mental condition will make a powerful combination.

I will be a little behind in terms of my riding and speed for the pre-season but I hope my renewed enthusiasm will pull me through quickly.
Q: What was your take on the season up until Gaildorf and your recollection just after the crash?
MP: This was the toughest year ever. Mentally, I was not in good shape. I was crashing a lot, we had problems with the bikes, we had to do a lot of testing and I just did not want to race. When you come to the track and you are not in the frame of mind to compete then the whole process becomes difficult.

It was a real shame that the only time in the whole season where I felt great and really happy was at Gaildorf. We took the 2003 and 2002 bikes and I was relieved to get back on the old motorcycle, which I felt was better for the challenge this year because we had so many dry circuits where the track preparation was bad. I had trained differently after Lierop and felt really pumped for Gaildorf. I was having fun on the bike and my times in Chrono were good. My motivation was up and we were ready to go, I knew that I could win two from the last three races and the Championship was not totally gone.

It was very sad that the accident happened there. If it was in Namur or Lierop then I would have understood, but it was such a stupid fall, a pointless crash. I felt the knee go right away. I heard the ligaments snap twice as my knee went 90? the wrong way. I knew that the season was pretty much over as I lay there in agony. As I got to the ambulance and then travelled back to France it felt strange to know that everything had all stopped so suddenly.

I started to think about the recovery and what it would mean for next year but I was also aware that there are others worse-off than me so it was not something to dwell on. That is racing and the way things go sometimes.
Q: How will you keep occupied over the next few months?
MP: I am trying to keep busy and doing some things around the house, which we are renovating. I will spend the next three months healing my knee and doing whatever is necessary. I will take a few weeks holiday with the family in November or December and also attend the Milan show. I have a few Motocross duties to do but I would like to take a break away from the sport.

My only concern is coming back to speed after five months and how long it will take me to do that. I am lucky that next season we are back to two motos and we have 16 races. I prefer this format and the long year will mean that I can afford not to be 100% ready at the start.
Q: Can the fans expect to see you at your home GP this weekend?
MP: I will be coming to Ernee to see the team and support Kevin and my young friend Pascal Leuret. It is hard for me to get around at the moment so I shall be at the track at least one of the two days. I will sign some autographs for the fans and I am sorry that I am not racing for them because I really like Ernee and it is not far from my home.