Rory latest

It is the news that we have been fearing ever since he was loaded into the ambulance at Scunthorpe on Friday night but it’s now almost certain that skipper Rory Schlein’s season is over.

He confirmed his morning that x-rays have revealed a fractured vertebrae in his neck in addition to a broken scapula.

As speedway accidents go it seemed a relatively low speed impact with the Eddie Wright Raceway polyfoam barrier after countryman Jake Allen cut across him from the outside gate in heat six.

But it was immediately obvious that Rory was in great pain.

The injury is a huge blow to Roo Boy who was in fine form and looking forward to the following day’s British Final in Manchester having had an engine especially prepared.

He was telling colleagues at BSN, where he has launched a thriving second career as a commentator and pundit, that he was travelling to the National Speedway Stadium confident of doing well – especially as he was due to meet the three GP riders in the same heat.

Now, the 39-year-old, must concentrate on recovering from yet another major spinal injury and, of course, all at Berwick speedway wish him well.

Poole’s Zach Cook guests in his place at Plymouth on Tuesday night having begun his British career with the Gladiators in 2021.

The Jewson Bandits, powered by Keenwood Karpets will operate rider replacement for Jye Etheridge has not recovered from the injuries sustained in his two crashes against Scunthorpe at Shielfield Park and another former Gladiator, Paul Starke, again stands-in for Bastian Borke.