The penultimate round of the New Zealand championships in Pukekohe on Sunday was one such occasion, where Columb is captured on camera collecting some tree branches mid-air on his Suzuki YZ250.
''I got my head ripped back and broke the front of my helmet,'' the Queenstown-based rider said.
It was not the start to the day he needed, as Columb (30) was hoping to stage a comeback in the MX2 class after a mechanical DNF in the second round.
He finished the next two motos outside the top three and described his results as ''very frustrating''.
Columb is now fifth on the points table, 65 points behind leader Kayne Lamont, of Mangakino.
Although catching him at the fourth and final round set for Taupo on March 22 is unlikely, Columb will be fighting for both his pride and a spot on the dais.
''I haven't finished off the podium in a national series since 2003,'' the defending MX2 champion said.
''It will be a struggle to get there but I will keep on trying.''
Husqvarna rider Lamont (20) has a 38-point advantage over Dargaville's Hamish Dobbyn (KTM) after a hat trick of wins at Pukekohe.
Honda rider and defending MX1 champion Cody Cooper left the track with a massive 37-point lead over visiting Scottish former Grand Prix star Billy MacKenzie (Yamaha), while in the 125cc class Hamilton's Josiah Natzke has a 35-point buffer over another KTM rider, Atiamuri's Hadleigh Knight.
With 25 points on offer for each race win and only three races remaining for each class, the class leaders therefore each have a race up their sleeves.
Motocycling photojournalist Andy McGechan said ''barring a miracle or disaster, it seems a mere formality that Cooper, Lamont and Natzke will be the 2014 champions at the end of the day at Taupo''.
Dunedin riders Grason Veitch and Regan Turner had a successful weekend at the Hasler Memorial Motocross meeting in Balclutha at the weekend, finishing first and second respectively in the 8-11 years, 85cc class.o
