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Trials legend Martyn Ashton confirmed as having suffered "life-changing" spinal injuries

MTB trials ace vows to work on finishing follow-up video to last year's Road Bike Party...

It has been confirmed that mountain bike trials legend Martyn Ashton, introduced to a new audience last year through his Road Bike Party video, suffered “life changing” spinal injuries when he fell while attempting a stunt during a trials demo at the Moto GP at Silverstone earlier this month. Update: Ashton said he was determined to see through a sequel to that film, Road Bike Party 2, which made its YouTube debut in December 2013.

Ashton, aged 38, was taking part in the Animal WD40 Action Sports Tour when he fell backwards from a bar 3 metres from the ground, which he hit “with significant force,” suffering sever spinal damage and dislocation of his T9 and T10 vertebrae, positioned around the centre of the back.

He was taken by air ambulance to Coventry Hospital, but his initial prognosis is not good, with Ashton said to have lost feeling at present beneath the point of the injury.

He is now at The Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, where he is undergoing further assessment and testing to establish how serious his injuries are.

Following six weeks of total bed rest, and once the damaged joint is stable, he will begin what is expected to be a difficult and lengthy rehabilitation programme.

But Ashton – who in 2003 recovered from a compressed fracture of his T8 vertebra after a landing went wrong – is in a positive frame of mind.

“Since the accident I've received so many wonderful messages and well wishes, I can't thank everyone enough for those – it has been hugely supportive,” he said.

“I'm also incredibly lucky to have amazing family and friends, who are all rallying around myself, Lisa and Alfie, and helping us through this tough time.

“As a result I'm feeling very positive and ready to face the tough challenge ahead. I'm just taking it day by day, hoping that I can make enough progress over the next three months to be home for Christmas.”

He also revealed that he has been working in secret on a sequel to Road Bike Party, and that he is determined to see the project through.

“My main focus this year was to make my next video Road Bike Party 2 – this has not changed,” he explained.

“I've been training really hard on the new road bike and I've felt like I've been riding better on this video than I've ever ridden in my entire life. I was so confident on that bike.

“Unfortunately we hadn't quite completed the filming – we were so close – but thanks to the team behind me and some great friends I’m excited that we are close to pulling the final edit together... so watch this space!”

Update: Road Bike Party 2 was posted to YouTube on 10 December 2010. Those "great friends" included Danny MacAskill and Chris Akrigg, both of whom feature. Here it is:

Here’s the original Road Bike Party video, which has had more than 8.5 million views on YouTube since being released a little under a year ago.

Ashton’s career began with him riding motorcycle trials as an 11-year-old, and in his late teens he switched to the pedal-powered variety, soon winning the British Bike Trial Championship.

In 1995, he signed up to the Volvo­Cannondale Mountain Bike Race Team, where he spent seven years, and during that time he won a World Bike Trial Championship.

Since 2002, when he began riding for Animal Clothing and also launched his Ashton Bikes range, he has focused on live shows, including an annual tour showcasing some of Britain’s top extreme sports talents.

Martyn Ashton (copyright Robin Kitchin)

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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24 comments

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Ciaran Patrick | 10 years ago
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What terrible news. Hope you get well soon and back on your bike Martyn

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Roberj4 | 10 years ago
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Martyn hope you make a good recovery and get back on a bike soon.

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utility_cyclist | 10 years ago
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An absolute legend, Road Bike Party deserves every one of those 8.5 million plus viewings and more. Amazingly positive mental attitude to his injuries, and I'll join everyone wishing him as full and speedy a recovery as possible.

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tarquin_foxglove | 10 years ago
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Terrible news. I hope he makes a full recovery.

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andyspaceman | 10 years ago
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Really, really sad to hear this. Martyn was a huge inspiration when I started riding MTB in the mid-90's. I remember the aforementioned Clifton Gorge slab piece well, along with other classic footage like 'Rio's Burgers' in Newbury and the shoreline piece with Martin Hawes in Wales (great remix of Garbage's 'Milk' on that bit of Chainspotting too).

Just last month I saw Martyn performing in the flesh for the first time in years, at the RideLondon100 registration show at Excel. He is still such an impressive rider - really busting the moves.

Here's hoping he can make a full recovery - good luck Martyn.

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behemothprocycling replied to andyspaceman | 10 years ago
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andyspaceman wrote:

Really, really sad to hear this. Martyn was a huge inspiration when I started riding MTB in the mid-90's. I remember the aforementioned Clifton Gorge slab piece well, along with other classic footage like 'Rio's Burgers' in Newbury and the shoreline piece with Martin Hawes in Wales (great remix of Garbage's 'Milk' on that bit of Chainspotting too).

That's what I love about the internet, it makes up for my terrible memory. What a great video that was.
"Don't mind me..."  21

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STATO | 10 years ago
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Terrible news, best of luck in his recovery. I seem to remember he had a bad back injury before, thought id seen pictures of him in a wheelchair (trial'ing it up as youd expect!), hope a recovery is possible for him.

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timbola | 10 years ago
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Martyn, please, please, please recover soon - Road Bike Party is loved by the whole family and everyone to whom I show it. There is more where that came from ...

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Sadly Biggins | 10 years ago
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Horrible news. Best wishes for a full recovery.

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Benjamin Nickolls | 10 years ago
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horrible, best of luck marty.

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Securivaj | 10 years ago
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All the best for a speedy, full recovery.

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Super Domestique | 10 years ago
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Really sad news.

All the best Martyn.

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behemothprocycling | 10 years ago
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How awful.

I rmember first watching him on MBUK videos when I was 14 or 15, the one of him and Martyn Hawyes riding down a huge slab of rock in Clifton Gorge just blew me away.

Get well soon.

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Jon Burrage | 10 years ago
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wow. Met him at the Fishers 2013 launch and he fulfilled what I had expected him to be, a thoroughly nice guy who was keen to chat to anyone about any type of riding. I wish him all the very best.

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therealsmallboy | 10 years ago
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Legend. If anyone can recover, Ashton can.

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jugster | 10 years ago
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Total legend. Here's to seeing Mr Ashton on a bike again in the not too distant future.

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Not KOM | 10 years ago
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Road Bike Party is my go-to video when I'm feeling down or I don't want to get on my bike. It always cheers me up and re-inspires me.

I hope Martyn recovers soon, and gets close to where he was before. Good luck!

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5th | 10 years ago
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Gutted to hear this. Martyn is a smashing bloke, hoping for a full recovery soon.

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stefv | 10 years ago
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You can find him on Twitter https://twitter.com/MartynAshton

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SpooksTheHorse | 10 years ago
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Martyn is a legend.

Any idea what the best way to send him a message is?

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turboprannet | 10 years ago
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Get well soon Martyn  2

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BikerBob | 10 years ago
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Shocked to hear the news...........fingers crossed for a full recovery!

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onlyonediane | 10 years ago
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Shudders! Hope Martyn makes a full recovery!

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Mat Brett | 10 years ago
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Martyn is the nicest bloke you'll ever meet. Hoping this is just a minor setback.

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