Austin Forkner suffered a spine and scapula injury in a crash in Round 7 of the Supercross series according to a post on Monser Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki Race Team’s Instagram page. A timeline for his return has not yet been announced. This is Forkner’s fourth major injury in the past four seasons.
Late Sunday night, Austin’s wife Rylee Forkner reported he had been released from the hospital and they walked out together.
Update: Austin Forkner posts emotional update of condition, future
“Austin wanted me to let everyone know that he was discharged this morning and we are home,” Rylee wrote. “We are thankful for all the needed prayers, the kind messages, and check ins... our family, friends, moto community, and fans.
“Angels were definitely watching over my guy last night, and just grateful to be walking out of the hospital, hand in hand, with my husband. I will let him post a further update tomorrow. Austin, I love you so much.
“And we love you all.”
Austin’s father, Mike Forkner also provided an update on Instagram. saying: “Man oh man, what a sport! The highs are high and the lows are pretty low. So proud of Austin for overcoming the adversity and setbacks that he has dealt with the last few years. I’m confident this is just a bump in the road and Austin will be back on top again.”
Forkner entered Arlington with the red plate signifying his position as the points’ leader after he was able to avoid a major pileup on Lap 1 of the 250 SX East division. Forkner dominated that round by winning his heat and leading all 20 laps of the Main. Forkner won his heat in Arlington as well and led the first 16 laps of the Main until lost control after jumping off a tabletop. Landing awkwardly, he was ejected from his bike and landed hard on a concrete path on the side of the track.
Timeline of Injuries
September 2023: Knee injury ahead of Chicagoland
January 2023: Full-thickness ACL tear and broken hand
2022: Re-injures collarbone in Arlington
2021: Broken collarbone in Houston
2019: Knee injury in East Rutherford
For Forkner, this has become all-too familiar.
Last year Forkner crashed on Lap 1 of the 250 SX West opener in Anaheim and missed the entire season. He returned midway through the Pro Motocross season and earned enough points to qualify for the Last Chance Qualifiers in the inaugural SuperMotocross World Championship but lasted only one round before re-injuring his knee.
MORE: ‘This is a tough one’ - Forkner on 2023 Anaheim crash
In 2022, Forkner was involved in a scary crash in Arlington when he and Jett Lawrence collided mid-air over a massive jump. As Forkner and Lawrence challenged for third, Forkner completed the pass just before the finish line jump. Lawrence kept the pressure on and when he clipped a Tuff Blox at the top of the jump, his bike was pushed to the right - and into Forkner, plunging that rider to the ground.
Forkner’s collarbone had previously been injured in a crash in the third race of the 2021 that sidelined him for the remainder of that season and this accident tore the screw loose.
The last season Forkner completed healthy, he finished third in the points in 2020 after winning four races and finishing second twice.
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