Howie Mainwaring, National Superstock front runner for MSS Colchester Kawasaki, has broken his back in a motocross practice crash, ruling himself out of the final round at Brands Hatch this weekend.

The 24 year old is a keen motocrosser, using the sport for fitness and race craft but crashed heavily on Sunday, breaking his L2 and L3 vertebrae. Howie will be operated on tomorrow (Wednesday) and then undergo recuperation at Ipswich Hospital.

Howie is disappointed to miss the final Superstock round at Brands Hatch but knows he has the whole winter to get back to full fitness. The last round at Silverstone saw Howie storm through from eighteenth on the grid to lead the race before finishing up third. He sits fifth in the series in a year highlighted by a fantastic race win at his previous outing at Brands Hatch in August.

A colourful and entertaining character around the paddock, Howie will be missed at Brands while all at MSS Colchester Kawasaki and Kawasaki Motors UK wish him all the best in his recovery.

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