Granite Hills grad, pro off-roader Clayton Roberts left partially paralyzed after accident
Professional off-road motorcycle racer and Granite Hills High School graduate Clayton Roberts was left partially paralyzed after he suffered a severe spinal cord injury during a recent competition.
“Clayton is doing well, but it’s going to be a long road to recovery,” Clayton’s father, Steve Roberts, told the Daily Press on Friday by phone from Boise, Idaho.
An Apple Valley resident, the 22-year-old Clayton was injured on March 24 while racing the AMA National Hare & Hound Championship in Murphy, Idaho, his father said. Nearly 300 yards off the start of the race, Clayton was traveling roughly 70 mph when he was ejected from his bike and suffered several injuries,
Clayton’s injuries included a broken clavicle, multiple broken ribs, and fractures to his T11 and T12 vertebrae, Cycle News reported.
Defending national champion Dalton Shirey, who was running third in the race, saw the fallen rider and immediately stopped and got off his bike, according to The Checkered Flag.
Shirley then raised his hands to notify oncoming riders to avoid the scene before going to check on Clayton.
Medical treatment
After the accident, Clayton was airlifted to a Boise hospital, where he underwent emergency medical treatment, his family said.
“Clayton still has no feeling or movement below his injury, but the good news is he is now in stable condition,” said Steve Roberts on Saturday. “Both of his surgeries to repair his spine and clavicle have been successful. He now has titanium rods, screws, and plates stabilizing him.”
With the help of medical staff on Saturday, Clayton was able to sit in a "shower wheelchair" and got washed up, his father said.
“This was the first bath since the accident, and wow, this was huge for him,” Steve Roberts said. “Clayton will have a very long road to recovery and will remain in ICU here in Idaho until he's strong enough to be transported to a spinal cord rehab facility closer to home.”
Clayton’s accomplishments
Clayton graduated in 2020 from Apple Valley’s Granite Hills High School, where he excelled on the boy's cross country team.
Clayton is the 2023 Pro ll National Champion, Pro Motorcycle Baja Racing Champion, and factory support rider for Gas Gas USA, his father said.
Clayton’s 2023 Pro 250 NHHA title campaign saw him win four of five races.
In January, Clayton moved up to the Pro division for the 2024 season, finishing 12th at the season opener in Lucerne Valley, The Checkered Flag reported.
In 2018, Clayton was among hundreds of racers who competed in the Adelanto Grand Prix. The race was part of the District 37 Big 6 Grand Prix series and part of the newly developed West Coast Grand Prix Serie, the Daily Press reported.
While Mark Tilley won the overall Senior class title in Adelanto, Clayton won the Mini Class.
Support Roberts’ recovery
On the Clayton Roberts’ Road 2 Recovery fundraising page, supporters said that Clayton is not just a racer, but a champion, an inspiration to many, and a beloved member of the racing community.
“His determination, resilience, and passion for the sport have touched the lives of countless fans and fellow competitors alike,” the online post said.
For more information on Clayton and how to donate to cover medical expenses, visit road2recovery.com/athlete-causes/clayton-roberts.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Granite Hills grad, pro-off-roader Clayton Roberts injured in race
