NICOLE MCALEER (GBR): BSB STK600 #09, Cadwell Park

Concussion rules McAleer out of Cadwell

Omagh's Nicole McAleer will be missing from the grid during Bank Holiday Monday's "Party in the Park" round of the MCE British Superbike Championship, where the 18-year-old should have lined up for the Metzeler National Superstock 600 race. McAleer who had been putting in some excellent and consistently fast times during free practice on Friday, setting a lap of 1:37.393, which placed her in 12th place in Group A. However she was later ruled out of the meeting when she suffered a massive high side at the notorious Barn Corner section of the Lincolnshire track during the first qualifying session.

The majority of the 2.1870 mile Cadwell Park track was dry but a small section under the trees at the Barn section was still damp and when she put the power down exiting the corner she was high sided off her Splash Racing / Megabikes.i.e. Triumph Daytona. After being assessed at the track by the excellent MSVR Medical Staff she was taken by air ambulance to Lincoln County Hospital where she was treated for concussion and was kept in overnight for observations before being released on Sunday morning with a very bad headache and still suffering with the after effects of the concussion.

Nicole remarked after the accident that it was down to the high quality of her equipment, including her Daytona Boots and Shoei helmet which helped to prevent her from sustaining more serious injuries. She is now hoping to be classified as race fit for the next round of the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship in just under two weeks time at Croft, Northallerton.

Sadly this is quite a short blog. First practice I was 12th but due to rain early on and parts of the track not drying up I was taking it pretty easy. There was two groups because the track is quite small. I had a few problems with suspension but we had them sussed for qualifying later on that day. Sadly it rained again before qualifying and dried out, but when we went out I had new slick tyres on and around the last few corners, especially Barn, it was still soaking wet. I came in after a few laps saying I was comfortable with riding it and my mechanics just told me to blast it round the dry bits and take it easy round the last few corners and Barn. But after a couple of laps I went into Barn and my front end tried to wash, but then caught grip and my back wheel came round and after that I really dont remember, but as I was told I was knocked unconscious and hit the barrier. Once the medical team got me to come round I was very ill and they were quite worried about spinal injuries and internal bleeding. Once they got me in the medical centre they cut my leathers and inner suit off me and I was then x-rayed and put in the air ambulance and sent to Lincoln hospital to have a CC scan and a x-ray on my hand. Thankfully all came back clear, but I had a severe head trauma and was throwing up constantly and was on morphine, so they kept me overnight and discharged me the next evening. But it meant I have a 14 day ban from being unconscious and well, I have no leathers or helmet, so I am majorly in need of sponsorship.

I would like to thank my family for staying calm during the whole operation and keeping me sane. Also to the CJ riders fund because only for Pam and Clive Jones the air ambulance wouldn't have been there for me as well as the x-ray machine, and I am very grateful to all the marshals and medical team that took great care of me during my accident. Now I am home and on the mend to pass the medical at Croft.