Toseland: My injury scare

JAMES Toseland has praised top medics after spotting an injury which could have ended his career.

The Kiveton racer broke a wrist when he crashed at high speed during testing last week in Aragon in Spain, ruling him out of this Sunday’s World Superbike showpiece at Donington Park.

But the 30-year-old has breathed a massive sigh of relief after specialists discovered that the injury could have led to osteonecrosis, or bone death.

Toseland has revealed that it was only a second opinion diagnosis which led to the problem being spotted.

He said: “My main priority was being fit enough to race at Donington,” said Toseland.

“So I was really pleased when I was told in Spain that I would be OK.

“But when I got back to the hotel, the pain in my right wrist was unbelievable and so I sent the scan on to a specialist I know in Manchester.

“They took a new x-ray from a different position in Manchester and found that I had badly displaced bones in my wrist.

“At that point, things were getting critical as there was no blood flow in the wrist, meaning that the bone could die if I wasn’t operated on immediately.

"I had expected him to confirm that everything was alright and give me the all-clear, so it came as a bit of a shock.

“I guess I’ve been lucky, but it’s a massive disappointment from a racing point of view.”