DAN BEWLEY admits he almost quit after a horror crash - now he claims to be a World title contender.
The on-form Cumbrian is one of the red-hot favourites to take glory in the Polish Grand Prix in front of a 55,000 sell-out in Warsaw tonight.
Bewley, 23, won two rounds last season - including the British GP - but revealed that he was ready to retire after a crash at Workington five years ago that broke his leg in five places along with a broken ribs and wrist.
He said: “When I was in hospital it wasn’t that hard. I had one or two bad days.
“After that I had a few messages from people saying I should take some time out. Anyone who told me that I just stopped speaking to them!
“That was the tough point getting back on the bike when I was doubting it so much.
“I couldn’t get a team spot anywhere in Poland. I actually nearly packed it in then. I thought about going for a job as a mechanic. I needed to get paid for something.
“That was about the worst it got. I started to go good about a week later.
“I was half wanting to be there and half not wanting to be there. If I was in front I was OK but around anyone else, I didn’t want to be part of it. I struggled with that.
“I knew I could ride the bike, I was fast enough. It was just whether I could actually race again properly.
“But I think it all changed when I came back and got the track record at Belle Vue.
“The problem previously was that I wasn’t sure how strong my leg was and if it could take another crash.
“The second part was the way I crashed at Workington. I just didn’t trust any other riders.
“That’s just part of racing, if there’s no risk, there’s no reward.”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Image by Taylor Lanning.