Up and coming young American road racer’s year cut short by concrete wall
Ten weeks ago 12-year old American 125GP racer Peter Lenz experienced a life-changing event when a combination of mechanical failures simultaneously occurred which resulted in the young gun crashing into an unprotected tyre and concrete wall at an estimated 140km/h.
Peter was in the ICU for several days and the hospital for two weeks.
Six surgeries, five broken bones and one severed nerve later, Peter headed home beat up, but optimistically determined.
Peter visited his surgeon again this week and was told that he would recover 100% from his injuries. He will have a short surgery to remove the external fixator removed from his leg on September 11th. After that he has six weeks until he will be cleared to return to sporting activities.
Throughout this whole experience Peter has been learning who he is as a person and a racer, “This recovery has been hard, a difficult time. All the get well cards boosted me when I was in the hospital. It made me think about how much I appreciate everyone behind me. The cards, people visiting me, and calling me really helped me out,” explained Peter
After winning eight separate championships in 2008 young Peter is certainly one of the rising stars of American road racing and can’t wait to get back on a bike.
“It’s been hard because I haven’t heard the sound of my bike in weeks, it really makes me appreciate the time I have riding. I know that I want to race for as long as I can, it’s what I want to do for sure.
“When I get back on the bike, I know I am going to be faster than I was. I have new motivation to go even harder. When I’m not riding I am really not myself, I don’t want to loose that part of me.
“Thanks to Arai, Impact Armor and Sidi for keeping me safe, and to all my sponsors that have stuck with me.
“My season was cut short, but even with that, it was one of the best years I’ve ever had. I learned a lot and look forward to getting back on the bike.”
Peter will slowly work back into riding over the coming months as he regains his physical strength, first on dirt, then MiniGP bikes, finally returning to 125 GP bikes after he has regained his physical strength and full use of his left hand.
A three minute video of Peter talking about riding, his crash and his motivation to come back in 2010 is viewable below
