DAN BEWLEY has so much metalwork holding bones together he sets off every airport x-ray machine.
Surgeons had to rebuild the Cumbrian after he was involved in a horrific crash at Workington five years ago.
Belle Vue ace Bewley, 24, has a multitude of rods, bolts and screws in his body after breaking his femur, shoulder and wrist following the high-speed horror incident and was left in a wheelchair for several months.
But now he only has the metal gold on his mind as he bids to defend his British Grand Prix title win at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday.
However, he admits that his determination to be World Champion never ceased even during the darkest days of recuperation.
He said: “It’s funny because the metal in my shoulder never sets off the scanner in airports. But the one in my femur does because it’s on the outside of my hip, so I always get double-handed crotch and hip rub which is very awkward.
“I know I had a lot of bolts and screws, I lost count. I’ve got a rod in my femur, the plate in my shoulder, there’s quite a few screws in that. I also done my wrist at the same time. All the metalwork is still in there.
“Even following the crash, I never thought of quitting. From the moment I woke up I never had the feeling that I didn’t want to ride again.
“The whole time when I was recovering I felt fine but I didn’t have the feeling of not wanting to ride until I actually got back on a bike and it wasn’t going so good.
“The six months after I crashed if anyone told me to quit, I never spoke to them again for a while!
“The problem was going in and out of x-ray rooms, one was telling me one thing and one was telling me another.
“One was saying I was strong enough to ride and one was telling me I shouldn’t even be walking. I didn’t know what was going on at that point. It was scary situation.
“I probably shouldn’t have started riding when I did. I had that many thoughts of what I should believe about my fitness, actually have I healed or not? Should I actually be here or should I not?
“When you are getting onto a bike wondering whether you have healed, it’s not the best frame of mind to be in.
“I was told that if I bent the rod in my femur or the plate in my shoulder, that’s me screwed. It wasn’t ideal but you have to choose how it’s going to affect you. You either carry on or find something else to do.”
Bewley sent the Principality wild a year ago; a sea of red, white and blue flags greeted his final victory, becoming only the third homegrown Brit GP winner.
While others might have partied James Hunt or George Best style with a bevvy of babes, champagne and cigars, Bewley doesn’t think of victory in the same manner whatsoever.
He added: “When people talk about the emotion of it, I don’t necessarily feel an emotion to things like other people do.
“I kind of struggle when people say ‘did you celebrate winning Cardiff’. I say ‘no, not really’.
“Winning is good but once you have won, it’s finished as far as I’m concerned.
“I didn’t party after winning in Wroclaw last year. I don’t feel like I need to celebrate.
“Especially as I’ve got older I’ve never been a big drinker. I could go and whatever but that kind of ruins my next day. I’m not really into feeling s***.
“When I arrive in Cardiff this year it means nothing what I did 12 months ago. It means nothing what I did two days ago.
“It changes so quickly in speedway. You can be s*** in Heat 15 and brilliant in Heat 20.”
Bewley is sixth in the GP title standings this year but isn’t bothered about just getting on the podium, he only wants the gold.
He added: “I’d love to be World Champion. But as far as second and third, it’s not something I’m too fixated on.
“I think it’s kind of out of reach to win gold this year, especially after Riga. But we’ve got a few more rounds to go.
“I’d rather have some GP round wins than a silver or bronze really.”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.