Olympic cycling champ floored by MotoGP Mamola Ducati ride

Stuart O'Grady suffers a seizure following Desmosedici pillion ride
Posted: 11 November 2009
by Visordown News

AN AUSTRALIAN Olympic cycling champion suffered a seizure after a ride on Ducati's Desmosedici two-seater racer at the Valencia MotoGP circuit on Sunday.

Stuart O'Grady collapsed soon after the high speed ride on the back of former GP god Randy Mamola but has now been given the all-clear and released from hospital.

Medical experts believe the nasty turn was probably triggered by the stress on his body from the extreme experience.

"When the ride finished of course I could feel my heart rate soaring, my blood pressure rising, but I didn't give it much more thought," said O'Grady, who has also won two stages of the Tour de France.

"But then I started having blotchy vision and 20 minutes later I had a seizure and collapsed."

Crikey, cobber!

 

Wow, that's a first, I think.

 

Glad that he's okay. Impressive riding though ..

 

I saw them doing the pillion rides at Laguna and couldn't believe anyone would get on the back of one of those things.

 

I almost did it. There are far better ways to spend $2,500 though...

 

Do they give you the leathers? Everyone had what appeared to be custom-fit Ducati-rep leathers on. I'd consider it if I got a custom suit out of it. But then again, I am an idiot.

 

Not sure if you get to keep the suit.

 

Doesn't surprise me, take the g-forces that his body wasn't used to, add in the fact that his body wasn't taking in enough oxygen due to the excitement= seizure.

I had frequent seizures for a brief period of time.

 

If you don't have a few seizures, you're not going fast enough. Or something.

 

Brilliant! Mind if I use that?