Spirit of Norway pilot toughing it out
by http://www.gulfnews.com on 30 Oct 2007
Spirit of Norway. Photo: Class 1 World Powerboats http://www.class-1.com SW
Defending world champion Bjorn Rune Gjelsten, pilot of Spirit of Norway, is supposed to be taking bed rest on the advice of his doctor in Oslo.
Instead, the five-time defending Class One World Powerboat champion has decided to go ahead and fight for his title till the very end.
'There is no stopping us in at least taking a crack at the title now,' Gjelsten told Gulf News after finishing on top of the podium to pick up his second win in the five rounds held so far this season.
The soft-spoken Norwegian aggravated an old back injury when his boat spun while trying to avoid another boat during the Romanian Grand Prix, the fourth round on the 2007 WPPA Class One World Powerboat Championship in Constanta last month.
'The injury has been there for the past two years, but I felt my neck and upper back stiffen after we spun the boat during the race in Romania,' Gjelsten said .
Gjelsten was originally injured when he was involved in a snowmobile accident while holidaying in Europe, some two years back. 'Steve Curtis also felt the same whiplash as we spun, but he seems to be okay,' Gjelsten said.
The Norwegian pilot visited his doctor in Oslo and he was advised to take three weeks off racing completely.
The incident has immobilised his first two fingers on the left hand, but he is not to be stopped from racing.
There was further bad news at the end of the fifth round here on Saturday when he experienced uneasiness in his back and left shoulder especially during the final five laps of the race. 'But nothing will stop me from racing, not when our boat is doing well and can at least hope to put up a fight and try and defend our title till the end,' the Norwegian beamed.
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