Shropshire’s Luke Priest is ready to endorse the speedway maxim that once a racer is always a racer.

The 22-year-old from Much Wenlock is set to ride speedway again – just over a year after being critically injured in a horror crash at Stoke’s Loomer Road track.

Priest suffered multiple injuries, the worst of which were a major fracture of his pelvis, a broken tibula and fibula in his left leg and some serious and worrying internal damage.

He underwent a catalogue of operations – but, 12 months on, he has started practising again and is targeting a comeback before the end of the current season.

Priest, who has stayed involved in the sport as manager of Birmingham’s Academy League team, the BRC Roofing Bulls, said: “I went for one of my final check-ups on my ankle, which believe it or not is still broken, and they gave me permission to start doing something on it.

“I have had a day at Stoke, and gone out for a skid after Stoke and Birmingham home meetings and it has gone well.

“I know I have a long way to go before I can start racing again, and I have to get a lot more laps under my belt first. I am still very tired after each practice.

“But I want to be back before the end of the season. I have met most of my targets since the accident, and I see no reason why I can’t meet this one too.

“Stoke Spitfires have a lot of fixtures coming up and they could possibly fit me in, so that’s what I’m aiming for.”

A makeshift Bulls team suffered their first defeat of the season last night when they were beaten 19-17 by Newcastle Gems in the Academy KO Cup.

Priest added: “I am enjoying managing the Bulls, but to be honest it is the wrong side of the fence for me. I want to be out there racing.”

l Birmingham dispersed the Premier Trophy gloom over Perry Barr with a top-to-bottom show of power against Newcastle last night.

They powered to their eighth home win in a row in the Premier League in outshining the Diamonds 57-36.

Had Ben Powell and Lee Smart not been beset by bike problems, they would have surely topped the 60-point mark for only the second time this season.

Skipper Jason Lyons led from the front with 14 points and Ulrich Ostergaard made a striking return from a back injury with 12 points.

Tonight the Brummies make the long trip to the Isle of Wight. Stoke are also in Premier League action at Sheffield.

l Stoke Spitfires were beaten 46-44 at home by Buxton in the Conference League last night. John Branney scored 14 for Stoke, but was overshadowed by Aaron Summers piling up 19 for the Hitmen.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Tonight – Isle of Wight v Birmingham (PL) 7.30pm, Sheffield v Stoke (PL) 7.45pm.

Tomorrow – Coventry v Wolverhampton (EL) 8pm, Boston v Stoke (CL) 7.30pm.

Saturday – Eastbourne v Wolverhampton (EL) 7.30pm, Stoke v Sheffield (PL) 7.30pm.

Sunday – Mildenhall v Birmingham (PL) 4.30pm.

Monday – Wolverhampton v Poole (EL) 7.30pm.

Wednesday – Poole v Wolverhampton (EL) 7.30pm, Birmingham v Redcar (PL) 7.45pm, Stoke v Boston (CL) 7.30pm.