Ellison starts fight back to fitness after Brands Hatch crash

James Ellison has begun his fight back to fitness following his spectacular crash in Sunday's second MCE British Superbike Championship race at Brands Hatch, which left him with an intertrochanteric fracture to his right hip.

Ellison was thrown off his Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki, which then somersaulted down the track, whilst leading the race ahead of title rival Shane Byrne. The Kendal rider ran wide at the exit to Dingle Dell and, getting onto the grass, he was fiercely flicked off the bike.

Ellison underwent surgery on (Monday) at King's College Hospital to remove a pin from his femur from a previous injury, and also had the bone-to-knuckle joined with a plate and screws.

Ellison said:

"I am feeling good and hopefully I will be up on crutches tomorrow. I am waiting to see a specialist to find out when I can begin partial weight bearing physiotherapy, but in the meantime we have organised recovery treatment in the Isle of Man for once I leave hospital. I want to say a massive thank you to everybody who has contacted me, I have read every tweet and post as I haven't slept much in the last two days!"

Team owner Mark Smith-Halvorsen commented:

"I am pleased to say that James' operation went successfully and he is in good spirits. He has had the pin removed and had his femur and hip plated and screwed back together - whereas previously he was just screwed! He also has a fractured kneecap, but that won't cause any problems. The hole in his knee they originally thought would require a skin graft, but they think that will not be the case now, which is also positive news.

"The last day has been a complete success with the surgery and treatment for James and very soon he can look at the next stage of rehabilitation with hydrotherapy, physio and the hyperbaric chamber. Typically he is very determined to overcome this injury and is eager to carry on the road to a full recovery. Over the coming weeks we will have a better of idea of when we will see him back on track."

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