Image: Octopi Media.

A heavy crash during the first 450SX main event brought an abrupt end to Dean Wilson’s night in St. Louis, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider requiring multiple surgeries following the incident.

The fall in the whoops was the first blemish to Wilson’s run of consistently finishing events throughout the 2022 season, the number 15 one of a few riders to do so in the premier class prior to round 13.

“First race of the night for me, second lap, I went through the whoops, I was in like seventh or something, and my rear wheel just hit an edge,” Wilson explained.

“It shot me left, I was going pretty fast into the whoops, and then it shot me into the hay-bales. I hit this little wall thing. I hit this wall and I had to eject from the bike, then I’m lying there and I feel really, really warm.”

Wilson lost a lot of blood in the incident and suffered a deep laceration to the glute. He added: “We get to the hospital and I’ve got five doctors playing with my butt, I went for two operations that night and I have another operation tomorrow.

“Kind of a weird injury, I’ve never had it before. There’s some light at the end of the tunnel here, hopefully we have a good surgery tomorrow and hopefully can be out by the end of the week.”

Wilson currently sits eighth in the 450SX points standings, with a return date to competition unconfirmed.