What are the odds of two brothers, motorcycle racers, being rammed from behind on the track within one week of each other, and suffering relatively serious injury? Probably, pretty remote, at best. Roger Lee Hayden and Tommy Hayden are the victims of those remote odds.
Both Roger Lee and Tommy were minding their own business, riding safely with the rubber side down, when another rider came out of nowhere to knock them down and injure them. Roger Lee was qualifying for the Superbike race at Barber Motorsports Park a week ago when he was rammed from behind. He was left with a broken pelvis, broken back and severely damaged pinky finger (which was ultimately amputated). Tommy got hit from behind on the opening lap of the Supersport race at Fontana this last weekend, suffering a broken tibia and dislocated ankle, along with severe bruising and damage to one of his ribs.
These incidents are a disturbing reminder that we do not always control our own fate on or off a race track.
