Andrews survives TT horror smash (From Cotswold Journal)

Andrews survives TT horror smash

7:30am Saturday 9th June 2012 in Sport

IF Evesham’s Simon Andrews was treated to the glory of the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy last year than he witnessed its darker side this time around after he suffered a horror crash.

The 27-year-old hoped to hang on to the coattails of John McGuinness but, while his Honda TT Legends teammate rode to an 18th win, Andrews was going under the knife to repair a broken right ankle and wrist.

Andrews was travelling at close to 140mph as he approached Graham Memorial in the curtain-raising Dainese Superbike race at the TT, fuelled by Monster Energy, when he crashed and was taken to hospital.

Fortunately, there was no damage to the right leg Andrews broke at Snetterton last year but, after spending time at his bedside, chief engineer Adrian Gorst admits he is distraught that his week ended prematurely.

It is in stark contrast to 12 months ago when Andrews took the best newcomer title for his efforts around the iconic 37.73-mile mountain course and Gorst claimed it could have been a lot worse.

He said: “He’s disappointed, sore and probably feeling a bit sorry for himself but, from where he crashed at the speed he crashed at, he got away very lightly.

“He had a reasonable start to the race, it was his quickest first split he had done all week, and the next two splits were the quickest he had done all week as well.

“Obviously, he made a mistake up on the mountain going a bit quicker than he had done and he ran out of road at Graham Memorial.

“He nearly lost his leg at Snetterton last year, it was a very serious crash, and fortunately the injuries he sustained on Saturday are a lot less serious than those.”

Regarded by Gorst as a future TT winner, Andrews was bidding to better his finishes of 11th in the Royal London 360 Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT races from last year.

Despite his relative inexperience, Gorst believes Andrews has what it takes to become accustomed to the more gruelling road race over the next few years.

“He had been progressing nicely throughout the practice week, this is only his second year here, so we weren’t expecting him to be on the podium,” added Gorst.

“We just wanted him to have a good ride, to learn the course and keep learning and he will do.

“This course can be unforgiving at times, though.”

􀁥 The 2012 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy are shown every evening, usually at 9pm, on ITV4 until June 11.

For more information on the event and for live Radio TT commentary and live timings as well as the full ITV4 schedule, go to iomtt.com 􀁥 EVESHAM’S Tim Nobes won his British Masters Grasstrack qualifying round in Thorverton, Devon.

Nobes took all four heats along with the semis and the final with maximum points.

The Cotswold Express has been on the podium twice before at the prestigious Masters and will aim to grab the top spot in this year’s event at Frittenden, Kent, on September 2.

Evesham’s other rider, Scott Cresswell, failed to make the semis.