Injured Sullivan to fly home for treatment?

Ryan Sullivan is determined to continue his brave bid for the world championship, even if it means making a lightening-quick trip back to Australia to get urgent treatment on the broken collar bone he sustained in spectacular fashion at last Saturday's European speedway Grand Prix in Poland.

Now fourteen frustrating points behind Sweden's Tony Rickardsson, the reigning and four-times champion with whom he has been disputing the world title all season, Sullivan says he simply has no choice other than to ignore doctor's orders and ride in next week's (Saturday September 28th) Danish GP, regardless of how much pain his badly damaged collar bone will undoubtedly give him.

Sullivan is first due to see renowned UK physio' Brian Simpson before deciding on whether he'll need to make that mad dash back to Australia - possibly to have a metal plate inserted.

Whilst recovering from the acute double-vision he experienced in the ambulance en route to Katowice Hospital in Poland, Australia's leading rider was relieved to learn that he hadn't broken his collar bone in the same place as he did last December when he took a tumble on his moto-cross bike.

Clutching a hazier than usual Polish x-ray, the 27-year-old was quick to dismiss any suggestions that his quest to become Australia's first world speedway champion for 50 years had now become too tall a mountain to climb.

"I've got carry on, just got to," said Sullivan. "A trip to Australia and back before the Danish GP is hardly what I need at the moment, but unless I can get my collar bone treated properly here in Europe, it looks like I might have to make a flying visit back home."

He knows full well that riding in Denmark with a broken collar bone will put him at a serious disadvantage against champion and favourite Tony Rickardsson, as well as fellow countrymen Leigh Adams and Jason Crump, but nonetheless, he point-blank refuses to admit defeat.

"I haven't come this far to give up now," he added. "In the GP, as I know all too well, anything can and probably will happen. I don't want something horrible to happen to my rivals, but maybe now that I've hopefully used up all my bad luck, they might be due some."

"Somehow or other, I want to try and keep the world title race alive for the tenth and final GP in Australia, so I'm going to gamble that my collar bone will stand the test. The show must go on."