A speedway star is in hospital with significant injuries following a horror crash during a motorbike race. Danish rider Tobias Vangsted Thomsen underwent major surgery after Plymouth Gladiators' match away to Poole Pirates.
He suffered a severely broken leg, fractures to his face and ribs, a punctured lung and a brain haemorrhage after colliding with Poole rider Richard Lawson. Surgeons had to insert a metal rod into his femur, from Vangsted Thomsen's knee to his hip, to stabilise it.
He is now recuperating in a Dorset hospital, with his family en route from Denmark to visit him.
Vangsted Thomsen, who has a fiancee and young sons, is a freelance rider and will have no income while he recovers.
Plymouth Gladiators' boss Mark Phillips informed Plymouth Live that a crowdfunding campaign will be created this week to raise funds for Vangsted Thomsen and his family and to assist with the cost of his motorcycle, which was severely damaged in the accident.
Vangsted Thomsen had only recently joined Gladiators, from Pirates, and was injured on his first outing for his new team.
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Mark, Gladiators' managing director, praised Vangsted Thomsen's bravery and said: "He is a really nice person, a proper Dane by nature, he wouldn't take any pain relief and was on the track for an hour with paramedics working on him. He was in a lot of pain.
"And when they did manage to sedate him, in hospital, he was waking up and asking what the score was."
Mark said Vangsted Thomsen has insurance and there is a benevolent fund to support injured riders. But he emphasised: "I don't know if he will make this season.
"There will be a crowdfunder to repair the damage to his machine and so he does not have to worry about his financial situation until he is back on his feet again.
"He probably needs about £4,000 just to repair his machine which is totally wrecked. And he's self employed so is without wages as well.
"But he is insured and we have a benevolent fund that runs throughout the county and they have pledged as much support as he needs and are flying his family in from Denmark."
Mark said Vangsted Thomsen sustained his injuries during the opening stages of the first match of the season against Pirates at Poole Stadium on Good Friday, April 3.
The two sides met again at Plymouth Coliseum yesterday, April 4, before a packed crowd of 1,400 spectators, with Pirates claiming victory in both fixtures.
Mark said Vangsted Thomsen's crash played a part in the defeats, highlighting his absence as a crucial competitor, and said: "It certainly did affect us. We had to bring a guest (rider) in. Tobias would have been the difference in both."
Vangsted Thomsen began his speedway career in his home country, winning the Danish championship in 2016 and 2018.
In 2019, he arrived in the UK to join the Birmingham Brummies and transferred to Poole Pirates in 2024 when the team enjoyed a treble-winning season, securing the Championship title, the KO Cup and winning the BNS series.
While recovering in Poole Hospital he has already taken to social media to update fans on his injuries and express gratitude for their support.
Vangsted Thomsen said: "I have broken my femur and have had a titanium bar inserted from the knee up to the hip to stabilize it.
"In the face, around the eye, I have three minor fractures in the bones, which fortunately do not require surgery. In addition I have broken three ribs and a punctured lung, and a small hemorrhage in the brain - nothing serious, the doctor said.
"What's going to happen from here, I'm not sure yet. I'm going to do my best to get back in shape and see where this takes me in the future.
"I want to race again because it's what makes me happy and feel alive. I really thought I had everything under control at this time. But getting hit from behind is hard to avoid.
"This is a race accident and I have no grudge against (Richard) Lawson - I know this could happen. All the focus now is on getting back in shape. Thank you for all the love and support."
