Huntingdon racer Danny King rode through the pain barrier to launch his bid for a second British title.
King, who lifted the crown in 2016, successfully negotiated his semi-final at Leicester last Tuesday despite being involved in a big crash earlier this month.
King suffered muscle, ligament and nerve damage to his left arm in the spill while riding for Ipswich in an SGB Championship meeting against Lakeside. He was hit by out-of-control team-mate Michael Hartel.
“Almost three weeks later I still can’t straighten my arm fully,” said King.
“The feeling has pretty much all returned so touch wood there will be no lasting damage.
“I shouldn’t really have ridden in the semi-final, but it is something I felt I had to do.
“Winning the British title in 2016 was the best moment of my career and it’s something I want to achieve again.
“I was struggling to hold on to the bike in all honesty so once I’d done enough to get through, I withdrew from my final ride.”
King is now fighting to be fully fit for the British Final on June 11 at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester.
He races for Leicester in the sport’s top-flight – the SGB Premiership – as well as for Ipswich in the second tier this year.
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