Dan Sayle vows to race on after serious crash at Classic TT

By Kyle White
Published 26th Mar 2019, 13:13 BST
Updated 26th Mar 2019, 13:21 BST
Manx rider Dan Sayle suffered a string of serious injuries in a crash in the Lightweight race at the 2018 Classic TT. Picture: Dick Wharton.Manx rider Dan Sayle suffered a string of serious injuries in a crash in the Lightweight race at the 2018 Classic TT. Picture: Dick Wharton.
Manx rider Dan Sayle suffered a string of serious injuries in a crash in the Lightweight race at the 2018 Classic TT. Picture: Dick Wharton.
Manx rider Dan Sayle says he never contemplated quitting road racing following his serious crash in last year’s Classic TT.

The 36-year-old came off at Ballaspur on the first lap of the Lightweight race on the Steelcote Solutions Yamaha.

He sustained head and spinal injuries, a fractured skull, a broken collarbone and shoulder, a fractured jaw and cheekbone and a broken leg in the incident, which left him in a coma for a week.

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Sayle, who has six Isle of Man TT wins under his belt as a passenger for fellow Manxman Dave Molyneux and Austrian Klaus Klaffenbock, plans to make his racing comeback at the Blackford’s Pre-TT Classic Road Races on the Billown course from May 24-27.

Dan Sayle pictured working on his Steelcote Solutions Yamaha at the Classic TT. Picture: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press.Dan Sayle pictured working on his Steelcote Solutions Yamaha at the Classic TT. Picture: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press.
Dan Sayle pictured working on his Steelcote Solutions Yamaha at the Classic TT. Picture: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press.

The two-time Manx Grand Prix Lightweight winner said: “I am counting the days until I will be back on the gird at Billown for the Pre-TT Classic Races.

“It has been a long haul since last August, but my determination never deserted me to race again – even at my lowest point – and now that I have been discharged from Nobles, I am getting back into a training routine to ensure I am fully fit for May.”

Sayle will compete at the event in the Geoff Duke Junior Superbike race on a 250cc Yamaha and will return to the course less than a fortnight late to contest the 250cc/650cc race at the Colas Post TT Races.