The thing I could use to put it into perspective for Matthew is something like Ali C's crash at Tartydays, when he badly damaged his foot. That was as a result of the wet log causing his tyre to slip. Yeah he knew it was dangerous, and he still did it, but he still had to live with the bad injury. If that happened to Kenny or Gilles, they would be swallowed up by the ranks of riders looking for glory, and might never return to the heights of their career. That would be extremely unfair, and I think it was the right thing to do, to abandon. Ali C is a great rider, and because his career came from his great street videos and unique riding, as well as comps, and that is why he still remains in the trial's worlds eye. When someone like Kenny or Gilles is injured, they don't have the fame from videos that Ali does, and comp riding doesn't leave room for different styles, only placing, so that could probably mean the end of their sponsorship, and potentially their income. That's only my opinion however. I still think his abandonment is because he can't win in mud with upside down handlebars, but still, the conditions were dangerous.