Thompson Dam via Moe Sunday 15^th January, 2006

Honda CBR1000	Paul Southwell (leader)	Suzuki GSXR1000	Chris Pointon
Suzuki GSXR1000	Brett Stewart (3^rd ride)	Yamaha YZF1000	Peter Parissis
Honda CBR1000	Ian Payne (rear)	Honda Blackbird	Peter Feistl
Suzuki GSXR750	Clint Vertigan	Suzuki GSXR600	Dave Ward
Yamaha TRX850	Tony Raditsis	Kawasaki ZX6R	Darryn Webster
Yamaha R6	Joel Haley	Kawasaki ZX12R	Paul Grosser

I headed of to Berwick a little excited as this would be the first club ride on my new “Fireblade”.Yes, I had traded my old 929 in on a 1000 and although the 929 was only 3 years old with 38,000 kilometres on the clock, it was starting to de-value quite quickly. So, after giving the bike a really good clean-up after our Christmas break at Porpunkah, I thought I’d see what she was worth!

I wont bore you with the details. Suffice to say New World at Berwick did the deal and now I’m the proud owner of an `05 Fireblade.

It was a good turnout at Berwick even with a couple of the ‘regulars’ not there. (Ben up in NSW on holiday and Lyn still in Myrtleford). Surprisingly ‘Suzuki’s’ where the dominant brand on this occasion, no doubt helped by Dave Wards 600 ‘Club bike’ which he will save wear & tear on the MV.

Paul gave the talk, I volunteered for the rear rider, and we were away down the Princess Freeway to Pakenham. Then the usual back roads through Nar Nar Goon, Tynong, Garfield, Bunyip and Longwarry. So far so good. We crossed the Princess Freeway and began to head for Jindivick and the ‘good’ roads. As I rounded a sweeping right-hander, bikes where everywhere and people waving franticly to slow down! I stopped and parked the bike noticing a rider laying on the edge of the road with a very damaged YZF1000 not far away. It was Peter Parissis!

Clint, Chris and Darryn attended to him while the rest of us either cleared the bike away or warned approaching cars of the crash. Paul and the others had returned and also the people from the neighboring properties came to help. I had noticed that Peter hadn’t moved as yet and was made aware he was ‘unconscious’ but at least he was breathing. Darryn had rung for an ambulance and although it seemed like an eternity, it was only 10 – 12 minutes before it arrived along with the police and a tow truck. An assessment by the ambulance guys gave his condition as critical, so an air ambulance was called to transport him the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

After making our statements to the police, a few of us tried to make sense of the crash. It would appear that Peter has run wide on the right hand bend and gone into the earthen drain. He then continued along the drain at speed until hitting a driveway crossover which launched him and the bike quite high into the air. The pair then landed heavily onto the road!

Why he drifted off the road no-one knows. He was in the main body of the ride and speed wasn’t a factor. The road condition was good and the weather was ideal. We will have to wait for a police report as it appears Peter may not be able to tell us.

After the incident, most members went their own way home, not being in any mood for riding. Peter, Paul and myself went on to Neerim South where, over a coffee, we discussed all the details of the crash. Although there is not much we could have done to prevent it, there will be some discussion at the Committee level to better prepare us for any incidents like this.

I would like thank all those on this ride for the very professional manner in which they went about helping where-ever they could and making the crash scene safe. Also special thanks to Darryn for his efforts in getting the ambulance there quickly and Clint, Dave and Chris who directly helped the ambulance officers attending to Peter.

Ian Payne