It has been brought to the attention of the ACU that it is necessary to formally put in place a procedure when a rider sustains a head injury. This applies to all sporting events and not just motorcycling.
Recently, concussion sustained by an Injury at an ACU event has come to the fore and the question has been raised with regard to ensuring a rider is fit to resume riding.
After taking advice from both the ACU Medical Panel and Insurers it has been decided that if a competitor has been injured and is suffering from Concussion the Organiser is requested to inform the ACU office, primarily Gary Thompson who will transmit the information to the sporting Secretary, who in turn will inform the event organisers for the following week.
The ACU office will also inform the rider concerned to ensure he is aware of the situation and also the need that
HE/SHE, the rider, is responsible for getting a letter from his own GP which clearly states he is fit to ride again.
The recovery time for anyone diagnosed with concussion was recently discussed at the ACU Medical Panel and are as follows:
Over 20 years of age: Excluded immediately for the following 48 hours, with a further 7 days (as a minimum) suspension from competition (nine days in total).
16-19 years of age: 12 days
15 and under of age: 23 days
In all cases, evidence is required that the individual is fit to participate in competition which means they will be required to produce a doctors’ letter/statement. This should then be forwarded to ACU Head Office (email:
licence@acu.org.uk) for further action and a copy kept for the riders own records.
For the avoidance of doubt the ACU office will hold a list of when a rider who has received concussion is released to participate in events again.