THE promising career of Biloela motocross rider Harley Quinlan appears to be over after a tragic training accident where he suffered serious neck injuries.
GYTR Rockstar Yamaha development team manager Scott Bishop told Central Telegraph Quinlan had suffered severe damage and he had surgery to fuse and pin his spine at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Quinlan is only now starting to regain consciousness while family and friends have rallied around the downed rider.
Mr Bishop said Harley's Mum Donna travelled down from Biloela to Brisbane on Wednesday afternoon to join Quinlan's dad to be by his bedside.
A trust account to help the Quinlan family with rehabilitation costs has been set up
"Passion, dedication, commitment and a driving will to succeed will see Quinlan overcome this set back," Mr Bishop said.
Quinlan's Facebook page was filled with well wishes.
“Get well soon mate, you'll pull through, you're a big inspiration for so many other riders like myself,” Fellow rider Jordan Dobell wrote.
SUNSHINE Coast rider Ford Dale says he’ll dedicate this weekend’s round of the Supercross series to best mate and rival Harley Quinlan who is facing life in a wheelchair.
On Tuesday Quinlan suffered a serious neck injury after crashing during practice at a track at Fernvale, west of Brisbane.
Dale and Caboolture-based Quinlan regularly trained together at Caloundra and both rode for Yamaha in the Pro-Lites division.
Quinlan, who raced for the GYTR Rockstar Yamaha team, was in sixth spot on the Pro-Lites leaderboard going into this weekend’s fourth round of the Supercross series in Auckland with Ford, who rides for Serco Yamaha, in 10th.
Dale said Quinlan knew the risks of motocross racing and his mate’s accident would not affect his decision to race in the future.
Doctors have confirmed it is extremely unlikely that Harley will regain any movement or feeling below his chest, although suggest his shoulders and arms should regain movement.
Quinlan is only now starting to regain consciousness while family and friends have rallied around the downed rider.
"On behalf of Yamaha, we are shocked and saddened by the news of Harley's injuries. We send our thoughts, prayers and best wishes to Harley and the Quinlan family in this difficult time," says Motorsport Manager, Ray Howard.
The battle now begins for a long rehabilitation process for Quinlan that will require extensive stays in Hospital and long periods of physiotherapy.