Baylor, Duvall, Girroir Injured At GNCC Opener
Cycle News Staff | February 22, 2022
AMA National Enduro Champion Steward Baylor, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Thad Duvall, and Coastal GasGas Factory Racing’s Jonathan Girroir updated their injuries they suffered at the opening round of the 2022 GNCC Series in Union, South Carolina, February 20.
Steward crashed late in the race while make a bid for a podium finish. The AmPro Yamaha Team rider reported on social media, “A simple line change caused me to hit a hidden stump. I wrecked and immediately couldn’t feel anything… it terrified me, but then I regained consciousness and feeling in my legs. Was able to get back on the bike to finish the final eight miles of the race. I was definitely sore, blurry visioned, but I knew I could still salvage points and I knew I could never live with myself if I didn’t keep going. Little did I know that decision was borderline life threatening. Days like today remind me that God is real. My C7 vertebrae is broken near my artery, but luckily, I did no damage to it, even after finishing the race. The doctors were shocked that it didn’t displace with the continued stress that I caused finishing the race. I am very lucky but definitely still in shock of the events that unfolded in today’s final lap.”
Stew Baylor was a favorite coming into the 2022 GNCC Series but an injury at round one will sideline his campaign.
“We won’t know for certain if we will need surgery until tomorrow, but I’ve been moved to a hospital with a good trauma center, and they are taking care of us so far.”
It is not yet known how long Baylor will be out of action.
Duvall also went down after hitting a tree stump early in the race. According to his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Team, Duvall suffered multiple injuries to his hip and pelvis and will undergo surgery, Tuesday, February 22.
2021 XC-2 champ, Johnny Girroir was also injured at the Big Buck season opener. Photo: Ken Hill
Coastal GasGas Factory Racing’s Girroir reported having fractured the “iliac crest” on the left side of his pelvis “in several places.” The defending GNCC XC2 250cc Champion, Girroir, also thanked everyone that helped him out of the wood and followed up by saying, “I will be back.”
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