The long trip to Knockhill ended in disappointment for Stockport’s Christian Iddon, as the TYCO BMW rider came off his bike during Free Practice for Round Four of the 2017 British Superbike Championship.
Iddon was thrown from his bike after just five laps of the Fife track, sliding out of action with the resulting friction burn requiring cleaning under General Anaesthetic, and with Raceday being less than forty-eight hours away, BSB rules meant that Christian was unable to take to the grid for the Championship’s annual visit ‘North of the border’.
Following a visit to hospital back in Manchester for an operation to repair the wounds, Iddon now faces a fortnight of preparation for the next Round of the Series at Snetterton in Norfolk.“It really hurt, I’m not going to lie about that one” explained Christian, “I feel I was alright to Race, but with General Anaesthetic it’s a forty-eight hour ban. So despite doing everything that I could there was just no way that they’d let me, and I understand that and respect it. I know why they do it but it’s disappointing as I’ve certainly raced with far worse than a grazed elbow.
“The BSB Medical crew were absolutely second to none. I’m glad most of you will never have to use their services but you honestly wouldn’t believe the level of care we receive. I am hugely grateful to them all.
“I then spent the weekend at Knockhill” added Iddon, “it was good to see all the fans as always, we only go up that far North once a year.
The former Supermoto Champion remains in fourth place in the overall Championship standings, and is now looking forward; “the plan for me is to be ready for Snetterton, I’m in a cast at the moment, just to stop me from doing anything, just a precautionary thing. Nothing too major, just do everything we can to get the skin to heal as best as we can, it comes off on Tuesday.
“So we’ll get the camper packed, head on down to Snet and see how we go. I know all the Tyco boys are ready to go, they had the bike ready within a few hours. We’ll do what we can”.
The Snetterton Round takes place on the venue’s ‘300’ layout and runs over the weekend of the 30th June – 2nd July.