By Danny Brault

Photos: Jason T. Griffiths and Allison Kennedy

It was difficult to find many positives from the first round mudder in Mission , but if you looked past the rain, mud and scoring problems, you would see one upside—no one was injured. Unfortunately, that streak only lasted until Nanaimo . During practice on Saturday at the Wastelands, Richmond Kawasaki’s Brady Sheren swapped out over some rollers, went down and broke a finger. The injury may not have been as serious as his broken arm at last year's opener or his broken femur from last November, but it's enough to suspend the 17-year-old from racing the final two rounds of the 125 West series.

We caught up with Sheren as we was picking up school work and getting ready to go to the hospital.

Brady, before we get to your injury, tell us how Mission went for you.

The qualifiers started great, I got the holeshot and lead for five laps or so, which was great; I felt really good. Then I just crashed in a corner, hit a couple of bumps the wrong way and the front end knifed under. That wasn’t a big deal, I ended up seventh and felt confident because I knew I had the speed.

In the first moto, I crashed on the start after hitting someone who had stalled their bike. So I was dead last and had to come through the pack. By about halfway I got up to ninth, which I was pumped about. I kept moving up but unfortunately the bike skidded to a stop; a rock was jammed in the chain. Then after that, I couldn’t start the bike. That was pretty much what happened in both motos, bad luck, crashing and couldn’t start the bike—that’s what ruined it.

Well you must have been pumped to see you had the speed to run up front?

Yeah that was definitely good, I knew I could run the speed and I know I have conditioning to do it; I’m defiantly in shape this year. Unfortunately, it’s not going to pay off too much now. [Laughs] But yeah, I’m just bummed.

Tell us about the injury you sustained last weekend.

It was in Nanaimo in practice, I just hit a roller a section at the wrong angle and swapped. I actually broke my hand before I hit the ground; my hand rolled forward and broke on the handguard. Then I swapped and hit the ground and walked off. I didn’t even know anything was wrong until I took my glove off and saw my finger. It was really unfortunate, I was just about to pull off from practice, and I decided to do one more lap—it was one of those.

Which finger did you break?

It’s my left index finger. It broke between where it connects to your hand and first knuckle. I broke it lengthwise and it’s in a few pieces.

How long do you expect to be out?

For sure the next two rounds, then I’m not sure what’s going to happen. We’re going to the hospital right now and we’re either going to pin it or screw it; I’m not sure what they’re going to do.

What are your plans following the western rounds?

Plans now are for this to heal up. Not too sure what I’ll race next, for sure I will be racing the Washougal national in the U.S. Then Walton, I’m still going to go there and qualify for the East/ West shootout and ride that hopefully. As far as the winter goes, my plan is to ride the local Canadian arenacross stuff and then the 125 West supercross.

Will you be riding for the Richmond team in supercross?

I’m not sure, they’re not sure if they’re going to do the east or west or arenacross series, or what they’re going to do yet. But I know for sure I’m going to do it out of my own Fun-mover, with their support for sure.

What about the Canadian World Supercross rounds in the fall?

Yeah I’ll do the Toronto and Vancouver rounds, it will be a good warm-up for the supercross series—which I’m pretty excited about.

It seems that you look more comfortable racing on the tight, technical tracks. Which do you prefer?

Yeah definitely. I’m definitely a big fan of the indoor and supercross stuff. I’m not a big fan of hangin’ off the back of the bike, eighth gear pinned—swapping!

What had you been up to before Mission ?

I broke my femur six months before before Mission. Even when I was on crutches, I was going to the gym with my trainer

[Chad Benson]. He’s been working me really hard, I did some local races and a lot of really hard practicing.

Well Brady, I hope you heal up quickly and stay healthy for us.

All right, thank you.