During the early stages of the second lap in the Junior Manx GP race on Thursday morning, Royce was involved in an accident at Union Mills, a fast section of the Mountain Course.
Royce said he entered the left-hander into Union Mills a bit too quick. The front developed a wobble and he was forced wide onto the footpath, couldn’t bring it back and hit the telegraph pole. The pole snapped in half, bringing down live wires and scattering debris, which resulted in a red flag to the race. The bike was literally destroyed on impact, with nothing salvageable. All the witnesses believe Royce is the luckiest guy around to survive what they saw.
Parents Debbie and Les Rowe, along with Royce’s partner Beth, went straight to the hospital to find Royce in a fair bit of pain, but conscious and talking. He has a big break to the right fibia, a complex break of the left tibia and complex break of the right wrist. All up, it’s 24 fractures within the legs and wrist. The doctors found no head, spine or internal injuries, which is extremely lucky.
They couldn’t do anything at Nobles Hospital on the Island so he was air-lifted almost straight away to Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool. He’ll undergo surgery over there and they estimate that he’ll be in hospital there for a few months. Despite being in pain he was still in good spirits, and strongly wanted to tell everyone who has supported us ‘thanks’ and also said to say ‘sorry’.
The team went down to Union Mills to collect the bike after Royce had been flown out. When the spectators, ambo’s and marshalls discovered who they were, everyone was amazingly supportive, offering to do anything they could to help.
It was evident that Royce had generated a lot of admiration and respect from all who have seen him this last couple of weeks and all were of the opinion that he was a genuine champion of the Isle of Man circuit.
The team would like to thank everyone for their support at home in Oz and here in the Isle of Man. Thanks to the paramedics of the Phil Hogg Motorsport Rescue Service (an ambulance service for the TT and Manx GP in honour of Phil Hogg who passed away in the 1989 TT) and the staff at Nobles Hospital.
When more information comes to hand, we will keep you updated.
Rowe Racing 
Stay strong Royce, it will be a long and hard battle but you have a great family and lots of support from home. “Sorry” from us too, fella. Stay in touch and be tough. Greg Summerton
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Thanks for the update Rowe Racing.
Our love and best wishes to you, Royce to get well soon.
Love to Debbie, Les and Beth. Thinking of you all and the rest of the team.
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no need to be sad or sorry just just glad that royce is going to be ok cheers pete
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Thanks for the update Team Rowe. My best wishes to you Royce for a speedy recovery. My thoughts and Love to Les and Deb, Beth, Leonard, extended family and Team Rowe Racing. Typical of such a great guy – he says – sorry !! Hang in there everyone xxxx Love from back home xxx
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To all at Rowe Racing thoughts and wishes from home.
Royce keep strong you have a great support network there with you and one waiting for you when you get home.
Best wishes from all the Mugfords..
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Hi Team, hard to explain that one could feel so sorry & yet so glad at the same time.
Work on your recovery Royce, I guess there’s going to be some difficulties ahead, but you are
surrounded by good units. lets hope for as speedy recovery as possible.
All the best with surgery & healing mate
Boagy
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Royce – we are all so sad to hear the news about your accident and so happy and relieved that you are ok. We know you are made of tough stuff and we wish you a speedy recovery and are here if you need anything. ( sounds like one hell of a travellers tales!)
All the best and we are thinking of you!
QAC TEAM
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Shit. that was no good hope you have speedy recovery – Best wishes Kym McConnell
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Royce I am so sorry to learn of your accident, my thoughts are with you.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Love Nan T xxx
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Thoughts and love go out to Royce and the Rowe family and team. Being young and fit will help recovery Im sure. Ive heard that Guinness helps in bone recovery 🙂 mend quickly. From Clair,Kerry, Josh and Ash xx
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The news made us sick in the stomach . It is wonderful news that Royce has survived this crash. It is very heartening to read on that Royce is in good hands in the “mainland” hospital. We can only guess how Debbie, Les, Leonard and the support team feel and our thoughts and love go out to them. Pass on to Royce our hope and strength for a speedy recovery.
Huge hugs to you all. Love Margo & Dale.
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Hi Royce, Debbie, Les and Beth thinking of you all, relax Royce and let them spoil you, love marg and phil xxxx Hi from Pat x
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What a Bugga !!! Sorry to hear about your little mishap mate , makes my broken fibula from the finke pathetic, can imagine how annoyed you must be feeling. All the best for your speedy recovery lad & i will have a beer with you at the Vello club when you’re back to give us talk. Cheers!
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That was a big one! Wishing you a full recovery Royce. Thoughts are with you and your family.
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Royce, what a champ you are indeed! No ‘sorry’s needed at all, just grateful,, this will make a helluva story once you’ve healed. Stay strong and keep us posted on how you’re progressing. Heart and thoughts with you every step of the way. Love, Rosanna
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Well no good young Royce, but not the first time your had an off maybe your biggest, take care mate and speedy recovery.
John Bonney
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Royce so proud of what you have achieved mate. Nothin to be sorry about. You gave it ya all mate and so proud to watch you go so well not just this year but in years past. Rest up mate we have a few cold froffies waiting back home old boy for when you recover.
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Hi mate,
Sorry to hear about your crash but thankfully you’re not bloody dead.
By all accounts it was big! Heal quickly mate, the three hours coming up, I’ll miss that Ducati up my arse.
Les and deb,all the best.
Snaithy
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Thoughts are with you all, hope you mend quickly
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Sorry to hear this news. My thoughts are with you all – wish I could do something for you! Speedy recovery Royce – I am sure you are in good hands there.
Take care everyone.
Cheers Karen
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Wow Royce, there’s not much you do by halves is there! As racers say, glad your ok…! You’ve pushed the limits of one of the most amazing and dangerous road races in the world and held your own well. Be proud of your achievements (everyone at home is) and focus that motivation on the recovery road ahead. You’re a legend mate!
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Sorry to hear the horrible news, hopefully you will recover quickly and you’ll return home soon.
Thinking of you and the family, let us know if there’s anything we can do to help. Lots of love, Auntie Suzanne and Cameron xoxo
PS. don’t get too cheeky with the nurses!
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Hi Royce,
Terrible news about crash. We are all wishing you a speedy recovery.
PS: between Locky and yourself, you are starting quite a club of Stobie Pole / Lamp Post assassins.
Stay strong mate.
Derek & Karen
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From All the Team in the Grand Stand Timing Room, we held our breath when we heard you came off at Union Mills and its a relief knowing you are on the mend. Get well quickly and we will see you back here in the future.
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Hey Royce, now that was just a wee bit over the top mate, you are supposed to get pole before the start not half way thru !!!! Just so relieved to hear that you are in good spirits despite the current state of the walking and waving bits. Nothing to be sorry about, shit happens sometimes.
Our thoughts particularly to Deb, Les, Beth and the team, can’t begin to imagine what your last 24hrs have been like, stay strong and look after each other, catch up soon.
Phil & Ronna
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Thanks Leonard for all your blogs this Manx our thoughts are with Royce, Deb,Les and Beth for his quick recovery – the guiness will be on hold at the moment. We are off to liverpool on tues so we will see for ourselves love to you and Jacklyn hope to see you soon xxxx
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Sorry to hear about your accident Royce. All the best to you and your family. Get well soon
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Hope you have a speedy recovery.Sounds like you were very lucky.(Lesley Baker)
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Look after those ‘guns’ Royce!! I hope all goes well with your recovery….
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So sorry to hear of your accident Royce, John and I wish you a good recovery you are young and fit that will be a bonus in your recovery! Thinking of you with very many best wishes, margaret and John jarvis
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Hi Royce, so sorry to hear of your accident, it sounds like it was a big one, glad to hear that you are ok (so to speak) & still with us. You should not be saying sorry mate, you are the one who has the balls to go out there & do it. Hoping you are up & about & recovering real soon.
Pete & Donna
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All the best Royce for the journey ahead. Thinking of you. Cheers , Gill Hicks
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Hello Royce,
I am so sorry to hear of what has happened. I wish you a speedy recovery and a safe journey home.
We will miss your smiling cheery face until your return. Wendy Laver
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Hi Royce we were devastated to hear your news, tough times ahead but you have such amazing determination and magnificent support from your family and friends. Look forward to seeing you later in the year fighting fit!!
All the best – Janet Grieve
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Hi Royce, i am gutted for you mate but i am glad you are (relatively) ok considering the accident you had. I was 100 yards up the road and was very unfortunate to witness it and i doubt il get the image out of my head for a while as it was horrendous. Wishing you a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing you back on the bike in the future.
All the best
Andrew Jones
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I wisch you a speedy recovery
grtz
Bruno
(from Belgium)
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Sending my regards, and wishing you as smooth a recovery as possible. Your QACkers miss you! All the best, Catherine Ellice-Flint
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