A CHAMPION motorcycle sidecar racer has suffered suffered horrific injuries in a crash.

Dave Holden, of Great Harwood, is recovering in University Hospital Aintree after breaking his shoulder, hip, four ribs, a small bone in his back and puncturing both lungs in a horror smash at Aintree race course, Merseyside, on Saturday.

His sidecar partner Rob Coward, also of Great Harwood, is recovering in the Royal Blackburn hospital after breaking his left wrist and injuring his foot.

Friend and sponsor Tony Morris, of vehicle repair company CMS, Whitebirk, Blackburn, said he expected Mr Holden to be transferred to a normal ward today.

Mr Morris, who was at Aintree on Saturday, said: "He was going round the right hand Beeches Bend and it looks as if he hit a bale and its gone from there.

"He's in good spirits and is able to breath without the help of ventilation.

"I saw him on Saturday and he was in good spirits and was conscious.

"It was a bad crash but he was the last person I would expect not to come back from a race. I thought he could go round there blindfolded.

"Sidecar racing is his life and it's all he's ever done.

"He told me that if he couldn't go back sidecar racing he would have to get back on his two-stroke."

Mr Holden is a former British sidecar champion and current Ace of Aintree champion.

He is one of the most well known figures on the UK sidecar racing circuit.

Mr Morris said Mr Holden was initially kept in intensive care following the crash as his condition was monitored.

He travelled over to Aintree to see Mr Holden again today.

He added: "He is such a strong man and always looks on the bright side of things."