They just don’t come more likable than Deano. Photo by: Simon Cudby

Dean Wilson is probably the most authentic human being I have met in the pits since I started doing this job back in 2011. The 25 year-old is as talented, driven and passionate about his job as any man could be, but unfortunately, since winning the 2011 AMA 250MX Motocross Championship, he has spent more time under the knife and recovering than he has on the track. He has faced some calamitous circumstances since 2011, and while he has flirted with hanging up his boots, he continues to strap them back on and get back to chasing the dream.

Heading into the 2016 Monster Energy Supercross season, Dean was coming back from ACL replacement surgery and double carpal tunnel surgery, and he looked poised to get the train back on the tracks. With the Red Bull/KTM team still behind him and Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin as his teammates, he was in a great spot to find that old Deano mojo. At both of the first two rounds, Dean showed amazing speed qualifying in sixth at both, and while his results weren’t earth shattering—9th at A1, 15th at SD1—he finished all forty laps and was gaining some much needed momentum. Once again, though, that momentum would hit a brick wall.

The Scot's style is always on point. Photo by: Hoppenworld
The Scot’s style is always on point. Photo by: Hoppenworld


During qualifying at A2, Deano made the smallest of mistakes and felt that pop that anyone that’s torn their ACL knows so well. Deano has not finished a Monster Energy Supercross since moving up to the 450, and this year would end just like last: sitting in a hopital room in disbelief asking himself how this is happening to him again. Luckily for us, Deano is as genuine as it gets—and has shown a propensity over the years of speaking his mind on social media while on pain pills and recovering—and he has shared his thoughts while in a hospital bed in Europe getting his knee fixed.

We wish Deano a speedy recovery and we hope to see the #15 back at the races healthy and smiling. It’s been a while since he’s been able to stick around long enough to remind some, but he makes the sport a lot more fun to be around. You can read Dean’s open letter to his fans below.

“Sitting here in disbelief asking myself how is this happening to me again? How many people wash there front tire mid turn and just pick there bike back up? This one really stings me as I gave up everything this offseason. With training, sleeping, eating, riding, testing and doing everything in my best possible way to be prepared for the season.

I started off the season strong and I felt by round 5 I would be where I wanted to be. So came A2, I was putting in a fast lap in timed qualifying which would be my last lap of that practice as I only had a minute 30 seconds to go on the clock. I had a solid lap going all the way until I got to the turn before the finish and my front tire washed nothing crazy but I felt my knee pop and buckle.

At that very moment I put my hands together prayed to God and asked him that I didn’t just blow my knee again. I hobbled up went to the truck just praying and unsure what was wrong but I wanted to see if I could ride the next practice. So I went out for the next practice and new rite away my knee was blown. As tears ran down my eyes under my goggles I pick up my mechanic Matt ride through the tunnel and back to the pits. I went into the truck and pretty much just broke down.

Feeling that this was a year for me to make it happen and come back strong and show KTM why they hired me in the first place I feel like I let all of my sponsors down and including myself. Feeling like this could be the last time I ever race a supercross for a factory team. Monday came by and I got MRI and results where a torn ACL,
MINISCUS and sprained MCL. My trainer @tylarattray and team came up not to mess around and see the best knee dr there is Dr S.Claes in Belgium.

So I have had that surgery done now and recovering. This injury has not discouraged me and I am going to do everything I can to come back strong for outdoors. I hope that I can set a good example for people and kids that have unfortunate luck and injuries who feel like they want to quit that just because there are some bumps on the road we push through them and become successful. For me I believe the light is still shining at the end of the tunnel and I am willing to do what ever it takes”

Sitting here in disbelief asking myself how is this happening to me again? How many people wash there front tire mid turn and just pick there bike back up? This one really stings me as I gave up everything this offseason. With training, sleeping, eating, riding, testing and doing everything in my best possible way to be prepared for the season. I started off the season strong and I felt by round 5 I would be where I wanted to be. So came A2, I was putting in a fast lap in timed qualifying which would be my last lap of that practice as I only had a minute 30 seconds to go on the clock. I had a solid lap going all the way until I got to the turn before the finish and my front tire washed nothing crazy but I felt my knee pop and buckle. At that very moment I put my hands together prayed to God and asked him that I didn’t just blow my knee again. I hobbled up went to the truck just praying and unsure what was wrong but I wanted to see if I could ride the next practice. So I went out for the next practice and new rite away my knee was blown. As tears ran down my eyes under my goggles I pick up my mechanic Matt ride through the tunnel and back to the pits. I went into the truck and pretty much just broke down. Feeling that this was a year for me to make it happen and come back strong and show KTM why they hired me in the first place I feel like I let all of my sponsors down and including myself. Feeling like this could be the last time I ever race a supercross for a factory team. Monday came by and I got MRI and results where a torn ACL, MINISCUS and sprained MCL. My trainer @tylarattray and team came up not to mess around and see the best knee dr there is Dr S.Claes in Belgium. So I have had that surgery done now and recovering. This injury has not discouraged me and I am going to do everything I can to come back strong for outdoors. I hope that I can set a good example for people and kids that have unfortunate luck and injuries who feel like they want to quit that just because there are some bumps on the road we push through them and become successful. For me I believe the light is still shining at the end of the tunnel and I am willing to do what ever it takes

A photo posted by Dean Wilson (@deanwilson15) on

Author

Dan Lamb is a 12+ year journalist and the owner of MotoXAddicts.