Everyone who participates in this sport is very passionate about it, but at the same time, in the back of every rider’s mind are those stark reminders that it can all end at any moment. After leaving his family and friends and moving across the Atlantic to the US and training for three months for his much-anticipated US SX debut with the Baker’s Factory, Troy Lee Designs / KTM’s newest recruit, French teenager Brian Moreau‘s 2020 SX debut ended in a bad way before it started.
Brian is in Intensive Care at the hospital after a crash in his first-ever free practice session at the Tampa SX that left him with a fractured C7 vertebra. Brian was rushed to the hospital and into emergency surgery. We have read that the doctors are waiting for the swelling to go down before releasing a full prognosis, but early reports have not been good.
Let’s all send our positive thoughts and prayers Brian Moreau’s way and hope this youngster comes out of this okay. Motoverte—a French moto website—reported that Mathilde Musquin [wife of fellow French rider Marvin Musquin] made the trip to Tampa and is with Brian at the hospital. Hopefully, that familiar smile is providing him with some much-needed comfort.
Here is a statement from the Moreau family translated from French to English
“Hello to all.
We wanted to inform you about the’s state of health.
Hit in the vertebrae, Brian had surgery last night at Tampa hospital. Surgery is good and Brian woke up. He is currently in intensive care but doctors will not be able to decide on his condition in several days …
Brian is a very brave and strong boy and is aware of everything!We wanted to thank all the people who support us.
Of course I do not thank the people who, on the other hand, still allow themselves to criticize him in such moments!
We will keep you informed when we know more.
Moreau family …
[Update – Tuesday 2/18] – Saw this over at VitalMX from LeBig and passing it on.
LeBig provided this update from Brian’s dad for us after translating from French Merci, LeBig..
“I would like to thank you all for caring for Brian. First of all, I’d like to say that Mathilde Musquin has been amazing through those very tough times. She’s managing the situation with great care. She is a guardian angel for Brian. Marvin is very worried about Brian as well. He went to see him and supports him too.
In addition, Troy Lee Designs, KTM, and RedBull have also been very supportive. Tyler, [Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM] Team Manager, is with Brian all the time. Brian’s mom arrived Monday night in Tampa with his younger sister. He is surrounded by loved ones. Regarding the hospital he is in, staff personnel have been very attentive since Saturday. Before even getting to the hospital, the doctors were waiting for him, knowing exactly the extent of his injury. It was a priority for them. They even cleared the CT scan room in order to be able to go into surgery as fast as possible.
Regarding his injury, Brian still doesn’t move his legs but today he gained a little bit of feeling in his back compared to yesterday. It gives us hope. We all are with him and we believe in him. Thank you again for Brian.”
