Kirton racer Wilson eyes a return to the track next year as his recovery continues

Race ace Ben Wilson is targeting a return to the track in 2018 as he continues his long road to recovery.

It has now been 18 months since the Kirton rider suffered a badly-broken femur and a broken knee at the North West 200 International Road Race.

After numerous operations and following the removal of an external fixator (used to help him grow some leg bone back) earlier this year, Wilson was back on his feet, albeit with the assistance of crutches and re-joined the team at Gearlink Kawasaki as rider coach throughout the 2017 race season.

Numerous operations over the last 18 months have ensured that he’s and been in and out of hospital every few weeks. The most recent operation was to remove a broken titanium plate and replace it with a rod which, after removing some of the marrow, was placed inside the femur.

After a few days of rest, Wilson was once again back on his feet – this time without the help of crutches – and after a few days he was walking normally.

Wilson said: “I have to get the strength back on my leg muscles and then work on my knee as it needs an extra 40 degrees of bend before I can ride a bike.

“I am putting everything into that as I want to be back racing in 2018. I am focusing on being back out at the beginning of the season at the end of March and remain positive.

“I realise it will be a couple of years before my leg is back to full strength and I will be having intensive physio to achieve this.”