Jonny Walker – Working hard to get back on top
It’s an understatement to say the last four months have been tough for Jonny Walker. Overcoming his SuperEnduro leg injury and a number of unwanted set backs he’s finally back racing and working hard to be fully fit for Red Bull Megawatt in Poland, a little over three weeks from now.
Recently taking the win at the Fast Eddy X-Treme Classic in the UK, Jonny returns to the British Enduro Championship this coming weekend as he continues to work his way back to full fitness ahead of the next round of the Red Bull Hard Enduro series.
Jonny, you’re back racing, finally pain free and recently picked up the win at the Fast Eddy X-Treme Classic!
“Yeah, I’m finally putting the injury behind me, back racing and feeling good on a bike again. Winning the X-Treme Classic event was a real step in the right direction. I knew the pace would be high for the two and a half hour main race, and the competition was stiff too with guys like Paul Bolton, Billy Bolt and Tom Sagar in the mix. I felt comfortable during the race, rode pretty strong and had a little more to give if I’d have needed to. “
What felt best – winning or simply finishing the race in no pain?
“After what happened at Romaniacs it was definitely good to finish a race, and finish it pain free. Winning is always great but finishing the race without pain, in one piece and knowing I had more to give if needed was probably more important to me. It’s been a long time since I last finished a race without hurting so that was a real relief.”
What actually happened in Romaniacs, did you re-break your leg?
“I had a small stress fracture on the injury to my leg. That’s where the majority of the pain came from. The bone didn’t exactly snap but doctors referred to it as a minor fracture. The fact it happened three hours into day one of four was the reason I stopped. Knowing that there were another 20 plus hours of racing to go meant I needed to be sensible about it.”
How would you rate where you’re at now, regards your recovery?
“Things are certainly going in the right direction now. I’m riding again without any pain in my leg. When I went to Red Bull Romaniacs I was hurting every time I threw a leg over my bike. I felt rusty and stiff and looking back now I wasn’t quite where I needed to be. I’ve more work to do to return to where I believe I was but it’s coming back each day, step-by-step.”
Do you feel your injury ordeal is now behind you?
“I’m happy to say I’ve got the all-clear from the doctors, I guess the rest is now up to me. I know I have work to do but I’m hungry to race again, I’ve sat on the sidelines for too long. It’s always difficult to know how these injuries will work out, but now that the medical side of things are right, I’m looking forward to ending the year as good as I possibly can.”
So what’s next then for Jonny Walker?
“I have a few weeks to prepare for Red Bull Megawatt. That’s the next big race on my calendar. I’m racing a round of the British Enduro Championship in Wales this weekend. It’s been a while since I rode a traditional timecard enduro so it’s going to be fun. With that and plenty more bike time I know that when Megawatt comes round I’ll be back into the swing of things and hopefully fit and ready to defend my Megawatt title.”
