A MOTORCYCLING star suffered a broken bone in his back after a high-speed crash saw him “land on his head” – just a day before a rider was killed at the same track.
Lewis Rollo was thrown from his bike as he raced at Donington Park on Saturday, October 1.
The 23-year-old suffered a T5 superior endplate fracture and is waiting to see a spinal specialist before he can get back on a bike or return to working alongside his brother.
He told the Courier: “I’m still able to walk and everything and I am still able to move about.
“Obviously, I’m not working and I am having to miss the last round of the season.
“It happened on the Saturday and I went out on the bike on the Sunday morning and I never felt right.
“I decided not to race and came back up the road and went out to work on Monday.
“I was not feeling that great at night and went to hospital on the Tuesday. It was then I found out I had hurt my back.”
The former Knox Academy pupil has had a challenging season where he has shown glimpses of the pace required to be at the front of the National Superstock series.
At the same time, his campaign for the Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles team has been interrupted by mechanical gremlins and he has failed to finish on the podium for the first time in a number of years.
The latest incident came during the first race at Donington Park.
Rollo had qualified in 13th spot and was working his way through the pack when he came off his bike at the chicane.
He said: “I had landed on my head and burst my nose.
“I broke my nose and there was blood all over my face.
“My top teeth had burst through my lip and all my mouth was full of blood as well.
“I went to the medical centre but they were that busy getting my face cleaned up and looked after.
“My back was sore at the time but with the adrenaline I did not feel it much.
“My nose had swollen up and was all cut and I burst my top lip, which was all split open.
“I could not eat my dinner and just went straight to bed.
“I had a proper big bang on my head and my helmet was wrecked.”
Rollo’s Honda team-mate Davey Todd secured the title with victory in the 17th round of the competition.
The East Lothian rider will be forced to watch from the sidelines for the last round of the competition at Brands Hatch.
The event will have a sombre tone following the death of Chrissy Rouse after a crash at Donington Park on Sunday, October 2.
The popular 26-year-old from Newcastle was competing in the British Superbikes.
He crashed on the opening lap of the race and was unavoidably struck by an immediately following rider.
Rouse sustained a significant head injury and was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Rollo, who lives between Haddington and Gifford, paid tribute to his fellow racer.
He said: “Somebody lost their life and it is hard.
“It is somebody that I have known for years. I have raced against him and had good races against him in the past.
“At Oulton Park a couple of years ago, I won the first race and he was second, and then in the second race he was first and I was second.
“We have always been battling with each other. It is the horrible, horrible side of the sport – unfortunately, that is part of it.”
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