POPULAR Sheffield Tigers Speedway skipper Paul Cooper is in hospital following an horrific high speed crash in the British Masters grasstrack event.

Cooper, a talented all-round motoryclist, suffered concussion and a bone injury and was airlifted to hospital after the crash at Rhodes Minnis in Kent.
Sheffield co-promoter David Hoggart said: "It's early days but this was a nasty crash and Paul has fractured a bone at the base of his skull where the neck joins and has suffered severe concussion although I understand the fracture has not separated.

"The hospital will carry out regular observations following the head injury and once Paul has passed through a period of stability they will then make a decision on treatment."

Cooper's parents, Janet and Clive, are with him in Essex and Hoggart said: "Everyone connected with Sheffield Speedway wishes them well. They are wonderful people and we are thinking of them at such a worrying time."