Sydney motorcycle rider Derryn Harrison is in the Emergency Care unit in Alice Springs Hospital with internal injuries after crashing today in the Vodafone Australian Safari international cross-country rally in the Northern Territory.
The 33-year-old salesman crashed his Honda XR400 on day three of the event after 38 miles of a 243-mile competitive course over three stages from Curtin Springs to Alice Springs. Soon after the accident, he was treated by medical staff accompanying the Safari in a helicopter, and then transported by air to Alice Springs and admitted to the hospital.
Harrison underwent a thorough examination, and x-rays revealed no broken bones. However, he suffered lacerations to his spleen and kidneys, and internal bleeding, and will take no further part in the Safari. His partner, Donna Marshall, said it was expected he would be in Intensive Care for two days and remain hospitalized for about a week.
“The doctors want to keep a close watch on the bleeding, and they are hopeful it will stop by itself,” she said.
Marshall, who had been travelling with the Safari, said she had been told by Harrison the crash happened when his vision had been clouded by dust. “Apparently the dust was like a fog, and he didn’t see a caution on the map because he was going so fast,” she said. “He thinks he hit a hole or gutter, and was thrown over the handlebars. The injuries happened when he was hit by the handlebars.”
South Australian Andrew Caldecott extended his lead in the Motorcycle division of the event by a further 12 minutes and 14 seconds over second-placed Casey McCoy of the United States on a Honda XR400. Caldecott, the top seed, has led from the start and has an overall time of 12 hours, 23 minutes, 58 seconds.
“We had no problems today – basically it’s been like that since the start, so I couldn’t be happier with the way things are going,” said Caldecott.
Former 500cc World Road Race Champion Kevin Schwantz slipped > out of the top 10 for the first time in the Safari. The 35-year-old Texan is now 11th on a Suzuki DZ-R400.
Current Results:
1. A. Caldecott (SA) KTM 660 Rallye 12:23.58
2. C. McCoy (U.S.) Honda XR400 13:08.12
3. T. Tervoert (SA) Husqvarna TE610E 13:27.52
4. R. Pollard (WA) KTM 640 Adventure 14:03.57
5. S. Blackney (GB) KTM 660 Rallye 14:10.03
6. G. Hoffman (NSW) KTM 620 14:29.57
7. A. Roberts (NT) Honda XR400 14:35.47
8. T. Kirby (NSW) Suzuki DR-Z400 14:43.45
9. D. Auricht (NT) Yamaha TTR250 15:08.54
10. C. Ross (NT) Honda XR650 15:19.11
11. K. Schwantz (U.S.) Suzuki DR-Z400 15:40.17
