Allan Lain suffered a cardiac arrest at Mallory Park three years ago while competing. The Worcestershire rider lost consciousness as he entered a corner and came off his motorcycle at high speed. Lain believes the consequences could have been far worse if the arrest had occurred five seconds later, when a resulting crash might have happened at about 100 mph.

Someone at the circuit began CPR, and Lain woke from an induced coma three days later. The account of the incident says the arrest was caused by a blockage in a left artery that restricted blood flow to the heart’s main pumping chamber. After an operation to remove the blockage, his surgeon cleared him to race again. Lain has said the bruising left on his chest by CPR became a reminder that somebody had fought to keep him alive.

A winning return

That return came at Mallory Park in April 2024. Lain won both races held that day and subsequently won the 2024 Rookie 1000 Championship. Speaking to the BBC, he said the experience had changed his outlook, leaving him more determined to make the most of life and enjoy it.

Lain also points to the location of the emergency as a major factor: the arrest happened at a race circuit, in front of an ambulance, allowing care to begin quickly. He said that without such a rapid response he might not have been able to ride or could have suffered brain damage. His message is therefore practical as well as personal—more people should learn CPR, and local communities should have access to more defibrillators. For racing venues, the episode underlines the importance of immediate response when a life-threatening emergency occurs.