Haydon fitness in doubt for Silverstone.

Foggy Petronas racing rider James Haydon will wait for the results of a scan on his neck before deciding whether to race in the sixth round of the World Superbike championship at Silverstone this weekend.

The English star was involved in a spectacular somersaulting 100mph crash two weeks ago in Germany.

Having returned to England this week from his home in Andorra, Haydon consulted a specialist who recommended the MRI scan.

"We first thought the neck muscles were in spasm, but it has been even more painful this week and I have been feeling quite sick," said Haydon, "I am hoping that the results of the scan tomorrow will show there is nothing damaged and that there will be no danger if I race. But, even so, it will not be ideal. I cannot believe that this has happened before Silverstone, when I was looking forward to racing in front of my British fans."

Following two challenging rounds in Europe, team owner Carl Fogarty had been hoping that James and team-mate Troy Corser could break back into the top ten in his team's first race action in Great Britain.

"It would be good to have both riders in the points for both races, and back in the top ten," said Foggy, "James has been having a run of bad luck so we all hope he will be fit and can have a good weekend. The last few rounds have been frustrating. I know where everyone in my team wants us to be - at the front. We just might have to wait a little while before we achieve that.

"The fans have been very supportive and knowledgeable about our efforts. They realise how much work ourselves and Petronas have put in to get the FP1 to this point in such a short space of time. I think a lot will be there just to have a look at us and, hopefully, we will be able to give them something to shout about."

But Silverstone is not a circuit that Carl, or his two riders, is particularly familiar with. It was only used as a World Superbike venue for the first time last year, when torrential rain affected both races, and Haydon and Corser have both only ridden the full circuit during an initial one-day test of the FP1 last September.

"I have mixed memories of Silverstone," added Foggy, "I won my first televised race there, when I overtook Darren Dixon on the last bend of a Marlboro Clubman race that was on Grandstand in 1985. I watched the recording every night for the next two years! The following year was my first Grand Prix ride when I finished eleventh, just outside the points in the 250cc race. Then, in 1987, I crashed and broke my leg while leading the 250cc British championship. The only other time I have raced there was as a privateer in the British Superbike championship in 1992. Now the circuit has completely changed. It used to be really fast but there are new corners everywhere."