Guy Martin signs himself out of Belfast hospital four days after horror Ulster Grand Prix crash

They certainly make them tough in Lincolnshire, as enigmatic road racer and TV personality Guy Martin has proved - signing himself out of a Belfast hospital despite multiple injuries sustained at this year's Ulster Grand Prix.

The Grimsby truck mechanic crashed during the Dundrod 150 Superbike race on Thursday night at more than 100mph, fracturing vertebrae, his sternum and a number of ribs.

He also damaged his right hand in the incident at Ireland's Corner, which claimed the life of Steve Johnson back in 1992.

Martin is reported to have had steel rods inserted in his back at the Royal Victoria Hospital on Friday morning to stabilise the injury to his thoracic spine, and a pin inserted in his damaged hand.

Despite all this, he fully intends being back at work today, according to his Twitter feed. Martin rides for the Moneymore-based Tyco BMW team and is said to be delighted with the deal that team owners Hector and Philip Neill secured him with the German manufacturer.

Only last month he won races at the Southern 100 and at the local Armoy Road Races event and is expected to commit to the Northern Ireland-based team, despite rumours circulating of his retirement.

Martin still works full-time - when his schedule allows - as a mechanic in the port town, but before the incident last Thursday he had a 24-hour mountain bike race, a land speed world record attempt and a crazy 100mph effort on the Wall of Death planned in the coming weeks and months.

These will now surely be put on hold, but the popular Lincolnshire celebrity with the angular features and the large sideburns has become a household name in recent years.

He's also a self-confessed tea addict and recorded a lap of the Dundrod Circuit last week for a UK-based motorcycle publication with a large mug of tea in his hand for the duration.

If his injuries do force him into retirement he will certainly be missed from the sport of road racing, but the small screen option will no doubt have the fast-talking racer on our screens for a few years to come.