Coming back strong after a brain operation, the indomitable Austin Forkner aims for dirt bike triumph
Rewrite
Speeding through the dirt, dodging obstacles, and pulling off gravity-defying jumps—it's all part of the thrill that Supercross offers. While this adrenaline-pumping dirt-bike racing is captivating, few embody its essence better than Austin Forkner, the titan never to claim a championship in the 250SX category.
Hailing from Missouri and boasting an impressive record in Supercross, Forkner shares that no other sport has the perfect balance of technicality, brutality, and physicality like the adrenaline-fueled motorsport. Speaking with CNN Sports, Forkner likened Supercross to a triple threat: golf's meticulous precision, UFC's raw brutality, and the physical prowess of a triathlete.
At Triumph Racing America's picturesque Georgia headquarters, Forkner, now 26, runs down the litany of injuries he's endured throughout his career. One theater of injury-prone body parts begets another as he runs out of body parts to account for. The list includes torn ligaments, broken bones, and surgical interventions for damaged shoulders and collarbones, among others.
But one of Forkner's most serious setbacks wasn't directly Sport-related. During a particularly violent crash, doctors discovered an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), a tangle of irregular blood vessels in his brain, requiring surgery[2]. When he learned that brain surgery was necessary, Forkner confessed it was a startling revelation.
Though relatively routine, the brain surgery was undeniably frightening. The operation necessitated cutting through his hairline, dislodging a portion of his brain from his skull for the surgeons to operate[1]. The thought of recovery, he admitted, was disconcerting. However, proving true to form, his recovery was relatively swift, and he was back on the track sooner than anticipated.
Around the same time, Forkner made a significant decision: leaving the sunshine of California for the lush greenery of Georgia and joining the burgeoning dirt bike brand, Triumph. He relished the change of scenery, feeling more at home in the serene, small-town Georgia landscape, reminiscent of his Midwest roots[3].
Adjusting to a new bike was also crucial, Forkner notes, as the setting up of the bike is meticulous and even the slightest adjustment is noticeable on the track[1]. Jeremy Coker, general manager of Triumph Racing America, praises Forkner's natural talent but acknowledges the risk the team took onboarding him after his brain surgery[3].
The biggest change for Forkner, however, was the arrival of his son, Atlas Hope, in March of this year. Fatherhood, he admits, has shifted his perspective and brought new pressures at the track. Yet it has also eased the pressure he previously placed on himself, providing a sense of purpose beyond mere competition.
Fatherhood has also given him a new appreciation for his own parents, as he now understands the worry and fear that come with watching his child compete. He hasn't decided if he'd encourage Atlas to follow in his footsteps, acknowledging the risks inherent in professional dirt bike racing[3]. But one thing is certain—Austin Forkner remains a force to be reckoned with in the world of Supercross.
In his interview with CNN Sports, Austin Forkner, a Supercross racer known for his physicality and technicality, compared the sport to a triple threat that combines golf's precision, UFC's brutality, and a triathlete's physical prowess. Drawing public attention with his thrilling racing style in the 250SX category, Forkner also engages in sports-analysis, dissecting the intricacies of Supercross.
