Bears reserve Dan Giffard is glad to be back home where he has an agonising three weeks wait before returning to hospital for surgery on the shattered shoulder blade and broken collarbone following his crash on Tuesday evening at Redcar. His shoulder is still plated from last seasons accident and on top of those agonising injuries Dan has pulled several muscles and feels very battered and bruised.

"My bike was totally written off in the crash, my kevlars and even my Bears racejacket had to be cut off," Dan said, "I'd like to thank the supporters for their fantastic support and really appreciate the collection held for me, thanks to everyone who donated."

The season is over for the Bears reserve, with the severity of the injuries Dan faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines on the long road to recovery, "I've been a Bear since the sport came back to Redcar and feel I am Redcar through and through, I now have to concentrate on getting fit and well for next season where I want to be a Bear once again and be able to thank all the supporters on track" commented Dan before finally adding "I don't know where all this bad luck comes from I don't live at number 13, walk under ladders or own a black cat!"

The Redcar Speedway forum that runs live updates for the Bears and Cubs home and away meetings has made a donation to Dan's collection which has been made possible by the heat sponsors on the forum.

Dan