Troy Bayliss suffers fractured vertebra in bicycle crash
Three-time World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss suffered a bicycle crash last week that has left him with a fractured C4 vertebra.
Bayliss suffered spinal damage that will result in the active 52-year-old being on the sidelines for several months.
Ducati Corse confirmed that Bayliss had no recollection of the crash after losing consciousness during the accident.
While the injuries are serious, the condition of Bayliss is stable and has since returned to his Gold Coast home following the crash which happened on Friday, May 14th.
Bayliss said: "I'm OK and I'm home, but the crash means I won't be riding a motorcycle until I regain full movement in my arms and hands.
"I really just wanted to let everyone know what's happened, that I'm OK and that I'll be back in leathers as soon as I can. “It's been an intense weekend for me and my family, but luckily I'm OK and I will recover.
"My doctors have been really positive, but there's no firm indication of how long it will be until I can regain enough control to get back on a bike – maybe a few months, maybe longer; it just depends on how the recovery goes once the bones heal up."
Due to the crash and recovery period needed, Bayliss will miss round four of the Australian Superbike championship which is at Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin.
With the final round of the season scheduled for November, it remains to be seen whether Bayliss will race again in 2021.
The Ducati legend also co-owns and runs the DesmoSport Ducati team in the series which includes Mike Jones and his son Oli Bayliss.