BRADFORD motor-cycle racer David Brook is suffering from a complex fractured right acetabulum (where the femur meets the pelvis) after a fall in Thundersport GB qualifying at Donington Park.

The 29-year-old from Clayton Heights spent time in Bradford Royal Infirmary and Leeds General Infirmary, and said: "After looking at the X-rays at LGI, it was discovered that the fracture had moved, and I had two options – don't have an operation and have 12 weeks of bed rest or have an operation, have it pinned and reset and still have 12 weeks of bed rest.

"I decided on the latter but am aiming to be back after five weeks for the Snetterton meeting, depending on the go-ahead from the surgeon.

"Motor-cycle racers tend to be quick healers."

Brook said of Donington Park: "Qualifying was dry but cold, so, having run slicks at Brands Hatch and having a lack of grip due to the low temperatures, we opted to put a treaded Superstock tyre on as they have a lower operating temperature and tend to be more versatile.

"However, it was the first time I'd turned a wheel on them, so they were unknown.

"We went out for qualifying and I felt positive, despite the lack of miles on the tyres, as, after a few corners, the shape was similar to the slick, so the bike steering was familiar.

"Maybe one lap in, the rear was spinning up, and that told me no heavy-handed throttle applications but the front grip was really good, so I tried to push, keep building over lap two, concentrating on corner-entry speeds and generating as much heat on the fat part of the tyre off the turn.

"On lap three, I tipped into Craner Curve and, with no warning, the rear came round on me and pitched me out of the seat.

"After an attempt to hang on to the bars, I failed and was end over end, landing heavily on my backside before cartwheeling and eventually coming to a stop on the grass. I had joined 'The Craner Club'."

Brook added: "The first thing you do is check everything still works – and it did.

"Then you try to get up. I couldn't but fortunately I had several marshals and a doctor on hand on that corner (it's that notorious), who gave me the once over.

"I really struggled to walk but the marshals do a fantastic job and carried me off the circuit into the ambulance.

"Those guys and girls do such a damn good job in the cold weather, and its all voluntary – we couldn't do it without them. Same goes for the paramedics and doctors – if you're going to crash, its great to know that you have medical expertise on hand, literally within seconds!"

Brook confessed: "I made a mistake with the Dunlop tyres – they need more time to scrub in in the cold weather, unlike a Pirelli.

"You live and learn. I still believe the Dunlop is by far the better tyre and I'll take a valuable lesson away from this crash.

"The problem with motorbike racing is you often don't learn that lesson until you're upside down and in mid air!"