It was an auspicious start to pro stock motorcycle qualifying at the 2015 Chevrolet Performance NHRA US Nationals yesterday when on the first pair of motorcycles down the track, rider Joe DeSantis went on of the scariest rides any of us in the tower could ever remember.
As you will see in the video DeSantis’s bike came of the starting line a little unsettled and as it gathered speed and headed down the track it began hunting towards the guard wall in the left lane. After crossing the finish line at over 150mph, the motorcycle made contact with the wall despite the best efforts of DeSantis to drag it back towards the center of the lane. As you would imagine, things got ugly for the 69 year old racer shortly thereafter.
After coming off the machine, sliding on the pavement and tumbling after he scrubbed off most of the speed that he had gathered, DeSantis came to a stop and for a few heart stopping seconds laid on the ground. He then popped up and while moving in the gingerly fashion was OK and eventually climbed over the wall under his own power. We’re sure that he is kind of sore today but the bottom line is that other than a bent up bike, Joe DeSantis is in one piece and will live to ride another day. THIS was scary.
Lucky dude!
I believe he sustained a fx left forearm in the crash.