Steve Mercer, the Maidstone-based former highway racer, has introduced that he’s getting ready to journey a bike for the primary time since 2018.
Mercer hasn’t ridden since he crashed on the 2018 Isle of Man TT with a course automotive, which means it should have been round seven years since his final journey when he climbs aboard the Honda CBR1000RR-R that he has not too long ago bought.
Within the crash, Mercer sustained a number of accidents, together with pelvic fractures, a damaged larynx, a punctured lung, and fractures to each his backbone and proper femur. The accidents left him in hospital for 5 months.
“Actually I can’t put into phrases how good this feels,” Mercer wrote in an Instagram publish.
“I’ve simply introduced this 2021 Fireblade and I really feel like I’ve hit a large milestone. I’ve not been on a Superbike for seven years however I’ve at all times believed that in the future I’ll journey once more.
“I definitely wasn’t going to let that crash in 2018 finish all.
“I don’t know the place it will go, if it’ll simply be a journey out at Manufacturers Hatch to finish it how I wished or if I begin driving once more usually.”
Mercer’s accidents initially noticed him lose 10cm in peak, however that has since been diminished to 3cm from his pre-injury peak.
He additionally misplaced perform in his proper leg, and due to this fact would require modifications to the motorbike in an effort to journey.
“I would like to vary a number of bits like match an influence shifter so I can change gear on the handlebars, discover a option to clip toes on foot rests and get some driving package sorted however as soon as I’ve obtained the bike prepared I’m going to guide in to Manufacturers Hatch for a day,” he mentioned.
The selection of the Fireblade was one based mostly on a way of loyalty to Honda, Mercer defined.
“Hondas had been at all times my favorite bikes once I was racing,” he mentioned, explaining his alternative of bike in an interview with MCN.
“When all of it went unsuitable and I used to be in hospital in Liverpool for 5 months, Honda themselves phoned my spouse Caroline and requested if there was something she wanted, and so they paid for a large chunk of the resort invoice for the entire time that Caroline stayed in Liverpool.
“I simply really feel loyal to the model as a result of I used to be contracted to them twice – as soon as in 2016 once I did World Endurance with John McGuinness and Conor Cummins, after which once more sadly when it went unsuitable.”
He added: “For me, I’ve at all times felt that the story hasn’t obtained an finish, and I’ve at all times wished closure to the story.
“Once I was in hospital many individuals mentioned to me ‘You received’t ever journey a motorbike once more,’ and searching again I don’t know if the medical doctors and nurses used to say that to inspire me to show them unsuitable.
“That’s how I took it, as a result of I assumed I’m simply going to show you unsuitable.”
