Guy Martin leads Bruce Anstey just before his crash at the Ulster Grand Prix Dundrod 150 Superbike.

Pic Rowland White/PressEye

Martin - the 14-times Dundrod winner and enigmatic TV star - was leading the final lap of the Dundrod 150 Superbike race on Thursday night when he lost control of his Tyco BMW at Ireland’s Corner.

He had been in a high-speed duel with the world’s fastest road racer, Bruce Anstey, who went on to win the race.

Initially Martin’s team tweeted: "Guy is banged about a bit but nothing broken". The 33-year-old was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital with suspected broken ribs.

But the Lincolnshire rider’s sister Kate today tweeted to say her brother would need an operation to stabilise his vertebrae.

He has suffered breaks to his ribs, sternum and vertebrae but is said to be in good spirits with family alongside him in hospital.

Martin served his apprenticeship at Dundrod doing laps after work with a former racer and colleague some 12 years ago, and while he is an advocate of the major safety changes and circuit improvements over the years, he openly admits it hasn’t affected his approach or commitment level.

“There are no chicanes. I don’t know, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s fast and flowing and I suppose you just click with certain places. It’s all fourth, fifth and six gear, and blindingly fast. None of this stop-start nonsense,” said Martin before his accident last night.

As well as road racing, Martin is a lorry mechanic and occasional TV presenter.

He has repeatedly been named as a contender for new new Top Gear team, since Jeremy Clarkson’s 'fracas' and the subsequent departure of Richard Hammond and James May

Martin was victorious at the Armoy Road Races last month, where Ian Simpson was critically injured in a crash.

Claire Cromie