17 year old T.O. powersports / Flexx Team Mate Colton Sanders in Recovery after epic crash.

By Erek Kudla, Nick Burson, Orion Sanders and the many spectators - Photo by Matt mcGowen

After finishing 2nd overall to Kendall Norman on saturday May 8th 2010 at the Badgers Euro Scramble young Colton Sanders was eager for the win come sunday. The T.O. Powersports / Fasst Co / Maxima / Dunlop Ktm of Sanders was hot on the JCR/Red Bull Honda of Norman "He came through check 1 on the thrid lap a good 30-40 seconds behind Norman.." Said a spectator. "...and to get that close to him at the end is absolutly amazing"

Sanders was able to reel Norman in just before the finish shoot and was going for the pass... and then the worst thing possible happened. About 100 yards from the white flag heading out for the last lap Sanders cliped a rock at full speed in Normans dust.

" I was standing at the finish and saw the bike cart wheel and do two or three flips before it landed." said Shane Sands who was watching at the finish.

"It was one of the most horrible things I have seen in my life... " said Donna Ogden.

"Saw the crash from B loop finisher, bike in the air and flipping 2 or three times. Colt flipped more times than that. It looked as bad as anything I have ever seen." said another....

When the dust cleared the rescue crews were on the scene evaluating Sanders and getting him ready for the inevitable helicopter ride to the Antalope Valley ICU. Colton ended up with a Broken femur, dislocated hip, his collar bone broken in two places, and some broken ribs that were collapsing his lungs. Luckily he had no head trauma.

"Colton is still in surgery but as an update his hip has been reset, his femur was a splintery break but they have managed to put a rod and screws in it. They are now working on his arm. He will then go to recovery and have a 2nd surgery in a few days to fix his collar bone. He is strong and has a great attitude. Thanks for your kind words and prayers!" said his mother as of May 10th. This was definitely not the mothers day she was looking forward to but the fact that he survived such a huge crash was the best gift she could ever have gotten.

**UPDATE**

After reading the article and everyones kind words Colton gave me a call (while getting a blood transfusion!) to say thank you to everyone who has sent their prayers and well wishes.

He also wanted to assure everyone that he was not riding over his head when he was attempting to make the pass. Norman was just cruising, having no idea Colton was there. Colton knew he could make the pass in the section just before the finish and went for it and clipped a rock in the dust. Its all part of desert racing.

He also said that if all his surgerys go well he will be out at the Next round of the US Desert Racing Series May 23rd!

"Its not about IF  you're going to crash its WHEN  you're going to crash"  - Earl Shueler on Desert Racing