Rutledge OUT for the season

You may have noticed last year’s force in the WMX class Bud Racing Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Meghan Rutledge was not on the line in Matterley Basin for the third round of the 2015 FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship. While the bubbly young girl from Australia didn’t have the perfect start to the season this year, she was still a solid title threat running third in the championship before the third round.

We caught up with the down to earth Aussie chick to see what’s up.

The question on everybody’s lips, why weren’t you at the third round of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship?

I was involved in a photo shoot for a film, RIDEUNITED, two days after returning from Thailand. At the shoot sight I had the opportunity to do a training moto before they started filming. Unfortunately this moto didn't go as planned I came off the bike and fractured my thumb.

Can you explain the injury and when you will be back on the bike?

I have a Rolando fracture of the base of the first metacarpal of my right thumb. Which in non-medical terms meant I had 12 fractures with 5 of them displaced in the base of my thumb. I had surgery to wire the pieces together and have been in a splint for 10 weeks. The surgery went well getting the thumb and pieces back into the best position possible due to the extent of the damage. At this stage I'm hoping to be back on the bike by the end June.    That sucks, how are you feeling about it all?

I am extremely gutted about missing the rest of this year, but missing this year will only make me work harder and want it more next year.  If there is an upside to missing last weekend, I was probably lucky not be overseas as I was rushed to the dentist on Thursday with wisdom teeth problems and have to get them out next week.  I must admit, last weekend sitting at home following the live timing for Matterley Basin was extremely hard.

Yeah I bet. From here, what are your goals?

I came across a quote “success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss only act as motivation.”

M goal at the moment is to get back on the bike. My long-term goal is return to Europe in 2016 on a Kawasaki for Team Bud Racing and win the Women's World Championship.  

Good goal! What are you doing for rehab on the thumb?

I'm currently having intense physiotherapy on my thumb and at this stage I am not sure how much movement I will get back. I have been doing a lot of leg and core work at the gym, but have just been given the ok to start doing a full gym workout including light weights. Unfortunately there are still a few exercises I can't do due to the thumb. The area around the where the fractures were is still quite painful, if this hasn't settled down by the next specialist visit in 2 weeks I will be having more scans. So at this stage I'm hoping all will be ok and I will be back into a full training program by the end of June. 

Is there anything else you want to add?

I would love to thank the sponsored who have helped me follow my dreams, I couldn't do this with out their help and support even while I'm injured. 

Team Bud Racing

Kawasaki Europe

Monster Europe

Fox Australia

Hitachi Power Tools Australia