TEENAGER James Cockle was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport yesterday after being involved in an horrific accident during Newport Mavericks Speedway team's Conference Knockout Cup semi-final at Hayley Stadium.
The Rye House Raider 16-year-old suffered a suspected double break to his leg after a spectacular crash into the stadium fence during heat 10 of the 15-heat fixture.
There were serious concerns about Cockle and Newport captain Scott Pegler after both hit the fence at high speed and with an almighty thump.
Pegler managed to walk away from the accident within a few minutes but an ambulance was brought onto the track for Cockle, who lay in agony for a good 15 minutes.
Riders and officials from both sides ,plus those from Newport Wasps, who had ridden just prior to the Cup semi-final, sprinted down the track to see how the riders were.
Pegler had gone for a gap on the outside of the first bend which did not exist and he clipped the back of Cockle's machine. It sent both the rider and the bike flying into the air.
Although Newport promotor Tim Stone did not see it, he defended the actions of Mavericks' skipper Pegler who match referee Will Hunter thought had gone for a gap which was not there.
Stone said: "It's a racing accident and it's all part and parcel of speedway. That's how the referee saw it. We have riders in the main team who go for gaps which aren't there all the time. If you don't go for gaps, then you will not pass anyone."
The accident comes just months after the Lawrence Hare tragedy where the Exeter Falcon broke a vertebrae in his back while riding for his team against the Wasps at Hayley Stadium.
Meanwhile, Stone is trying to find a rider to fill the gap of Wasps' Emil Lindqvist, who damaged his right ankle ligaments yesterday before tonight's match with Glasgow Tigers at Hayley Stadium.
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