Between the Races: Bret Milan
May 17, 2006
By Laurel C. Allen
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Bret Milan has always been an articulate representative of his employer, Shoei, but these days he’s a walking, talking advertisement for helmet technology, having crashed his brains out in a motocross accident two weeks ago. The crash left him with a fractured C7 vertebra but no permanent damage, which was a huge relief not only to Bret himself, but to his many friends in the road race and motocross communities (both of which have been shaken recently by news of serious neck injuries and paralysis). We checked in with Bret—who’s already back behind his desk—to get the lowdown on his recovery and Shoei’s latest products.

Road Racer X: We’ll start with the million-dollar question: How are you feeling?
Bret Milan: Yeah, let’s let the world know I’m still alive! I’m doing just fine. Actually, I’m feeling pretty good for a guy who broke his next just two weeks ago today. Due to the safety afforded me by my Shoei helmet [laughs], I’m back in action. All kidding aside, I took a digger at about 50 miles an hour from 20 feet up on my motocross bike at Perris raceway, and suffered a pretty good concussion and broke my neck. The fact that I’m back in the office already—walking and talking and all that stuff—is a real gift, so I’m feeling pretty good about things.

Just two weeks after breaking his neck, the ultra-tough (and very lucky) Bret Milan is back at work.

I’ll bet. It’s hard to believe you’re already back at work!
Actually, I’m going to Infineon this weekend to watch over my boys up there and make sure everything’s okay. I’ve got a new guy from the office, Pat, who’s going to come up and assist me with my duties since there’s not a whole lot physically that I can do, but I’ll be there making sure everything gets taken care of for everybody.

Glad to hear it. What kind of break was it exactly?
It was a C7; I fractured my C7. It’s one of your neck bones, but it’s one that, had it damaged my spinal cord—which fortunately it didn’t—it would have resulted in a pretty severe degree of paralysis. For instance, I believe C7 is the same area that Ernesto Fonseca injured. Any of the C vertebrae, if you damage those, it’s usually not a good thing, so I got lucky that it just kind of chipped on the outside. And actually, I got landed on by another rider after I crashed, so I don’t know if the damage happened when I actually augured in or when somebody landed on me.

Does that mean you’ve finally remembered how the accident actually happened? Last time we talked you weren’t real clear on the details.
Oh no, I still don’t remember any of it. I have no idea. It’s just because I have tire marks across my chest protector that I was able to figure out I got landed on [laughs].

The inside of Bret's Shoei, post-accident.

What’s the prognosis as far as healing time goes?
It’s supposed to be about six weeks, but you know, I’m not in any hurry to push it. I mean, I feel pretty good—like, if I was a guy getting paid a million dollars a year to race motorcycles, I figure I could be back riding within a month, but due to the fact that I don’t get paid to race motorcycles, I’ll probably take the summer off [laughs].

Okay, let’s talk Shoei. What’s new and exciting over there?
One new product that we just released is the Aaron Gobert replica RF1000; the helmet that he’s been wearing for the past year is now finally available as a replica, just within the last week or two. And Jake Zemke also has a new helmet that he debuted at Daytona this year—quite successfully, I might add, winning the 200 with it—but anyways his replica helmet will become available within the next month or so, in two different color combinations. And of course Eric Bostrom is another of our replica riders.

Did you get calls from all those guys checking-up on you after the accident?
Yeah, for sure. You know what’s amazing about it? I’ve been a motocrosser for years and years and years, and the first road race I ever attended in my entire life was Daytona in 2003, so I’m still relatively new to the road racing paddock. But what amazed me is that the calls and well-wishes from people have been probably 3-to-1 road racers over motocrossers. I really like that about the road racing paddock—it’s just such a friendly atmosphere and people genuinely care and are friends with each other, whereas with motocross it can feel a little more cutthroat over there. So it’s been really nice. My cell phone bill is going to be a million bucks this month because I’ve had so many people calling to check on me, but that feels really good.

The new Jake Zemke replica, available soon at a Shoei dealer near you. Photo courtesy of Shoei

I heard a rumor that this accident might mean more track days and less motocross.
Yeah. You know, I’ve just kind of had bad luck with the whole motocross thing. I kind of have a theory about tall guys and motocross: I don’t think it’s necessarily such a great combination, because you tend to go over the bars a little bit easier. And I’ve definitely whacked my head more times on the ground that it was good to do, whereas up to this point—knock on wood—my track days and other street bike stuff have been fun and gone real well, so I’m starting to think more and more that I like riding my street bike more than my dirt bike. Actually, I can’t say I like it more, but I think it might be better for me [laughs].

So how long until we see Bret Milan at the back of a road race grid?
Wow.... I think that’s actually pretty doubtful. I can’t afford it! I see how broke all the road racers are except the factory guys, and I don’t want to subject myself to that.

On the subject of racers, the last AMA round was an exciting one for a couple of your Shoei guys, right?
Oh, for sure! At Fontana we had a great weekend with Eric Bostrom carding his first FX win on the Yamaha R6, and I was really, really proud to see him break that slump, because so much of that with the riders is momentum, and now that he sees he can win, hopefully he’ll do a whole lot more of it this year. And then also, one of my favorite kids in the paddock who’s really stepped it up this year is Danny Eslick. Every race that his bike has run in he’s pretty much finished in the top five all year, and he got his first podium finish at Fontana and that was really exciting, to see him living up to his potential. It’s really nice to see good things happen to good people.

Shoei's very own Bret Milan (in a bad Jason Pridmore disguise). Photo courtesy of Bret Milan

It’s pretty obvious that your concern for the riders goes way beyond whether or not they put a Shoei on the podium.
Absolutely, even to the point where I’ve actually helped place some of my amateur riders—more in motocross, obviously—onto professional teams when they reach the point where they’re turning pro and it’s time to hit the AMA circuit. It basically just really makes me feel good when I can help a kid out, and then see him excel. That’s definitely one of the biggest satisfactions I get out of doing my job.

Thanks for your time, Bret—glad to hear we’ll be seeing you at Infineon!
Yeah, me too. The support I’ve gotten has been just awesome, and obviously I’m thankful to be doing as well as I am, considering. See you there!