As we reported in our 2017 King of the Motos coverage, FMF/KTM rider Taylor Robert crashed in a high-speed section of the course in Johnson Valley, California, February 5, and he had to be airlifted from the scene. Now it appears as though his injuries are much more severe than was first thought.
Robert starred in an epic battle with fellow KTM rider Cody Webb during Saturday’s night race, taking the win after the two ran bar-to-bar right to the finish. However, on Sunday, after having cleared the first bottleneck section ahead of the rest of the field, Robert and Webb were battling at mach speed across the desert floor when Robert hit a rock and went over the bars in a spectacular crash. Webb, who didn’t witness the crash, carried on with the lead. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Colton Haaker found Robert unconscious and stopped to tend to him.
“As I came up across the hill about 20 seconds later, he was already on his back, fully passed out,” Haaker said. “I turned and tended to him and tried to figure out what I could do to help. I couldn’t get to his tracker; I didn’t want to move him so I just used my tracker and tried to get the helicopter there.”
Robert regained consciousness and walked under his own power to receive medical attention. He was later hospitalized and remains in intensive care.
Four-time AMA National Hare & Hound Champion and Purvines DA8 Racing team co-owner Destry Abbott is a close friend of the Robert family, and he took to his Facebook page yesterday to update fans and well-wishers about Robert’s condition:
Please keep @taylor_robert33 in your thoughts and prayers. I’ve been getting a lot of people asking for updates and here’s the latest from his mom (Linda). Taylor had a gnarly crash at the King of Motos race. He’s still in the hospital in ICU and they have him sedated after having surgery last night (internal injuries). They will keep him like that until Friday and then he’ll have another surgery. He had more damage done to his small intestines and colon then they thought. There’s a few other things and will keep everyone updated as I hear more. I don’t want to give out the wrong info. Taylor is a great Kid and I know he’ll be back to 100% before we know it. Love you T and keep your head up!!! #tr33
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