Speedway Grand Prix ace Darcy Ward has been left with “no lower-body feeling” after a horrific crash in Poland on Sunday.
Ward, 23, received emergency surgery later that evening as medics rushed to his aid following the shocking fall while representing Zielona Gora against Grudziadz.
While chasing the lead, Ward hit a rut in the ground, forcing his bike to lift coming out of the fourth bend. His bike caught the back wheel of the leading rider, sending him spiralling into the wooden track fence down the home straight.
The Australian, who is tipped to become world champion one day, is currently riding on loan for the Swindon Robins in the British Elite League.
A statement released by his parent club, the Poole Pirates, on Monday confirmed that he is breathing and communicating on his own, but had “no lower-body feeling at this time”.
A full prognosis is expected on Wednesday.
Poole manager Neil Middleditch and Grand Prix superstar Chris Holder have flown to Poland to be alongside Ward.
Speedway riders compete in four-man races on one-gear bikes which do not have brakes. Bikes can accelerate to speeds of up to 60mph faster than Formula One cars.
Ward is currently spending a year out of the Grand Prix series after serving a suspension which kept him out of the start of this season.
Ward’s crash follows on from British ace Lewis Kerr’s crash earlier this month. The King’s Lynn Stars rider was forced into an induced coma following a smash at Peterborough.
Kerr is now recovering at home and says he is recovering “day by day”.
He too sent a message of support to Ward, writing on Twitter: “Fingers crossed for @D_Dublu_racing”
The two incidents bring back haunting memories of crashes involving British riders Lee Richardson and Ricky Ashworth in recent years.
Richardson passed away following a crash while riding in Poland back in 2012. He succumbed to internal bleeding after a collision with a safety fence.
Ashworth was left in a coma for 91 days after crashing at Scunthorpe in 2013 and is now brain damaged and undergoing physiotherapy to help him walk again.
Due to the high speeds, riders have to skid around corners, which can often cause collisions with other riders.
In recent years, it has become compulsory to have ‘air fences’ around the corners of senior racetracks up and down the country, to help prevent the risk of serious injury.
Air fences are not required down the back and home straights of the courses.
