It’s fair to say that Wil Hahn has been on a rollercoaster ride since turning pro in 2008. A catalogue of injuries over the past five years have slowed but not halted the Kansas-born rider’s progress, although the setbacks seem to have only strengthened the GEICO Honda rider’s determination. Unfortunately, missing races due to an injury is something Hahn has grown accustomed to.
The 2011 season was a particularly tough one. After an encouraging off-season, having just signed with GEICO Honda and after getting all settled in with his new team and adjusted to a new bike, Hahn came into the Supercross opener at Anaheim in great shape and with high hopes. Tragedy struck in the first practice, though, when a horrific crash left Hahn with a broken back, forcing him to miss most of the rest of the Supercross season.
Adding insult to injury, Hahn suffered another major setback during the lead-up to the 2011 outdoor series when he injured his shoulder in a crash while practicing, causing him to miss the first few rounds of the motocross series.
Hahn returned to action in the outdoor series at RedBud, only to suffer a concussion and a broken collarbone at Unadilla. In all, Hahn raced only four races in 2011.
Amazingly, after riding only four races all year, GEICO Honda re-signed Hahn for the 2012 season, something that seemed to some like a huge gamble.
“These guys gave me a chance in 2011 and I feel like I failed them, but they stuck behind me,” says Hahn. “I only raced a few races for them and they re-signed me for another year, so I am very appreciative of that. It says a lot about this team and what kind of people they are. That’s something that words, and even my championship, can’t repay. I owe these guys for the rebirth of my career.”
Ironically, Hahn missed the first few rounds of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Lites West season due to a broken hip he suffered at the Honda practice track.
“I couldn’t believe it, I had to sit out again,” Hahn said of the ordeal. “I was bummed but we got through it.”
To read more of the WIl Hahn interview in this week’s Cycle News, click here
