Corser overcomes bird strike at Phillip Island
Added on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Corser overcomes bird strike at Phillip Island
Troy Corser overcame a bird strike at 230kph to post the sixth fastest time of the weekend in the final World Superbikes text before the start of the new season at Phillip Island.
The BMW rider was on a flying lap of the Australian circuit when a plover took flight just as Corser was riding past at high-speed, striking his left bicep and knocking is hand off the handlebars.
Remarkably, the Australian was able to keep control of the BMW S1000RR with just his right hand and bring it safely back into the pits to assess the damage.
A brief check-up in the pit garage revealed a swollen arm and on doctor’s advice, Corser sat out the remainder of the session and rest up ahead of the opening race of the season next week.
“That was a very scary moment I can tell you,” said the former World Champion. “I saw the bird on the track and moved inside to avoid it, but it flew up at the last moment – straight into my left bicep. Hitting a one kilo or so bird at over 230kph is no joke and my left hand was forced from the handlebar and I had to control the bike with just my right hand! I’m not sure how I managed it, but somehow I did and was able to get the bike back to the pits.
“The left bicep was already swollen so I paid a trip to the doctors and was told not to get on the bike again and rest the arm as much as possible.
“It was a pity, because we had quite a bit more to test and were not able to do so. But, we did manage a lot of stuff and I feel very comfortable on the bike. The S 1000 RR feels as good round Phillip Island as any other bike I’ve ridden round here.
“I’m not bothered at all about other people’s lap times. I know what I can do on race rubber and I know that laps in a long race are very different to setting one-off quick laps. We are progressing and although there is a lot of work to be done, everybody is fired up, working hard and determined to do the very best they can. Let’s see what happens next week now.”
