The father of a teenage motorbike racer who was rushed to hospital after a smash at the Donington Park circuit today told how it had not put him off the sport.

James Howell, 14, from Idle, came off his £4,500 Aprilia RS125 motorbike during a race yesterday.

The Hanson School pupil was carried off the circuit unconscious on a stretcher after a blow to the head which has mangled his helmet.

He was expected to be released from the Queen's Medical Centre at Nottingham today, suffering from bruises to his arms and legs.

Peter Howell said: "I was in the pit lane waiting for him to come round, and when he didn't, my heart went. We went straight to the medical centre and they brought him back in an ambulance, on a spinal board. He was a bit poorly so they decided to keep him in hospital overnight.

"I've spoken to him and he hasn't lost his enthusiasm, he's just annoyed it happened. When they're racing round at 100mph plus, it only needs a little bit of something to go wrong and they're on their backsides. It's a little bit hazardous, but these things happen."

The teenager, who is in his third year of competition, races in the same colours as Baildon's Steve Patrickson, ten times champion.

He was expected to return home to Idle today to join parents Peter and Janet and older sister Laura, 16.

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