Carole goes to all meetings with him, so motorcycle road racing presumably is in the ‘Cummins blood’, with no surprise, then that Conor was soon astride a two-wheeled engine vehicle? Carole explains, “Conor has ridden since he was four years of age, so eventually moving from motocross to motorcycle racing was a natural progression. I always said I didn’t want him to do the roads but I couldn’t stop him as he was old enough to make his own decision. Once he decided to do the NW200 it went from there. I knew his capability and that he doesn’t make rash decisions and that if it wasn’t for him he would be sensible enough to admit that. Age didn’t come into it.”

Carole was not surprised that Conor did so well so soon at the TT, but that doesn’t stop her worrying when he is out on the track. How does she cope when either her son or husband are racing on the Mountain Course? “It is always a very tense time when either of them are riding anywhere as it is not something you become relaxed or blasé about. When they are out on the TT Course I just concentrate on where they are on the circuit via the coverage and place them around the Course and where they should be at what time, etc and try not to get distracted by anything.”

The majority of us couldn’t possibly have imagined what it was like waiting for news of Conor after his accident. Carole takes up the story: “When we heard that Conor had crashed I went straight to the Retirement Office expecting to be told what had happened and how he was, etc. Unfortunately the information was very slow getting through to us. My friend in the Retirement Office was desperately trying to get information for us but then it was announced on the radio to everyone, so I knew the same time as everyone else. I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through this as it was a very stressful time and it seems to go on for ever. I did voice my concern to Paul Phillips the next day at the hospital.”

There has been a good deal of concern about Conor’s medical progress during recent months, particularly on website forums; questions have also been asked concerning the time scale of any possible return to the track. What are the thoughts of his mum? “As a family we have encouraged Conor to go back to racing when he felt it was the right time as since day one of the accident he has stated that he would return to the saddle. If Conor had said he was going to the moon I would have encouraged him as his sheer determination to come back that has got him through some of the darkest times since the crash.”

Those of us who have experienced long periods of debilitation know only too well the frustration, boredom and ‘dark days’, indeed wondering whether or not a full recovery will be made.

Recent photographs show a happy, smiling Conor, having discarded his crutches, but how did he really cope during the months following that dreadful incident at the Veranda? Conor’s mum is obviously the best person to tell us…“whatever Conor needed, he got help with but not just from me and the immediate family. People really rallied around; he stayed in Douglas with his good friend, Peter Simpson whilst he was re-cooperating and this saved him from having to travel from Ramsey every day to go to the hyperbaric chamber, situated at the fire station near Quarterbridge.

The amount of support and encouragement from fans, children and certain celebrities really helped him through all of this. He has received so many cards and letters, emails etc from people that it kept him positive. He has been a very good patient, doing everything to the letter, never having once complained. He has borne everything with great dignity.”

Conor obviously has the full backing of his parents, who always travel to the NW200 and UGP to watch him compete, but not so the BSB meetings as getting time off work and the cost of the ferry restricts them to a couple of crossings each season. However, Conor’s mum hasn’t been the only female looking ‘the two metre man’ during the recent months of his immobility – sister, Roisin and girlfriend, Zara have both given tremendous support, never doubting his will or ability to return to the track. So, despite the serious injuries of 2010, Conor is fully prepared for the coming season, being supported by the Ian Lougher team in the BSB Superstock series and Winston McAdoo in the three international ‘road’ meetings.

Carole, as mum, will continue to worry when he is negotiating wall-clad roads at such high speeds, but that doesn’t prevent her from being immensely proud of Conor’s achievements? “Yes, I am proud, as is Conor himself, in representing the Isle of Man overseas and at home. Being a local lad in the TT and doing well has been phenomenal, as has the support he has received by locals and fans from overseas. Obviously setting the fastest laps in races and being on the podium only adds to our sense of pride. But Conor is very level headed and has remained as ever the same old laid back – Conor!!”

With continued determination, Conor will be pitting his skills against the Mountain Course again this summer, knowing he has the full support of his parents and that when he enters parc ferme at the end of the race, one of the first to congratulate him will be his mum, Carole, relieved that he is back safety, but immensely proud of what he has achieved.