Carl Wilkinson will not be riding for Newport Wasps at Hull tonight in the return Premier League meeting - and his speedway career may be at an end.

The 23-year-old Wilkinson, a Newport asset, delivered the bombshell to promoter Tim Stone last night - yet another body blow for the Wasps' boss.

Apart from blowing two engines in two successive meetings he suffered a broken nose in a freak accident while working on his car at his Boston home.

Patsy, Wilkinson's mother who drives their vehicle to home and away meetings, said: "It was an unfortunate end to an unfortunate week when he blew an engine on the start line against Stoke on Sunday.

"It is all but over for Carl because the pot is empty.

"He is absolutely gutted, but there are bills and debts to be paid.

"We have been behind him from the start and done as much as we can. It has stretched us financially and there is not a bottomless pit.

"We have to keep a roof over our heads and I know that sounds quite dramatic - but that's the way it is.

"It is a sad state of affairs but it's not the first time it's has happened to a rider and it won't be the last.

"Apart from not having any engines he couldn't get his racing goggles on because he looks as if he has been ten rounds in a boxing ring.

"I am afraid he won't be riding at Hull tonight.

"He had taken a day off work to work on his car for the MoT. He cut a finger quite badly, rinsed it under the tap and went back outside.

"But he felt faint, fell and hit his face on a piece of metal in the grass. He didn't get the car finished and spent three hours at the hospital."

Wilkinson failed to get a point from three rides against Stoke last Sunday while in the previous home meeting with Hull there was no return from five rides.