It's worse than first thought for Joonas

LAKESIDE Hammers are left cursing their luck today as the full extent of the injury received to their Finnish international rider, Joonas Kylmakorpi, became apparent.

Kylmakorpi was the innocent victim in a horror crash at Peterborough last Thursday, resulting in a complicated fracture of the elbow.

Having consulted a number of specialists, Kylmakorpi took the decision to pin the injury which will now result in a period of rehabilitation.

"Previously, this would have meant quite a few weeks on the sidelines, but I will be having a very high tech form of treatment in an oxygen tent,” Joonas said.

“The extra oxygen in the blood speeds the body's natural mending process and can even halve the recovery time. I'm hoping to be back racing in three weeks."

Hammers team manager, Jon Cook, remained upbeat in the face of the setback.

"It's a blow, for sure." said Cook.

"Joonas was just getting back into the kind of form to regain his heat leader status, and to be knocked back through no fault of his own is a bit galling. But that's Speedway - it's a tough sport for tough guys, and you have to take incidents like this on the chin.

“Our rider is confident that his rehabilitation will be rapid, as are we, but we will keep a close eye on things - if we need to sign a replacement, we will. For the immediate matches in the coming days, the facility to use 'Rider Replacement' will be utilised".

The Hammers go into the Easter weekend on the back of a successful opening to their League campaign, which saw the club pick up where they left off at the end of 2008, fighting for top spot in the Elite League.

The Hammers next home meeting is on Good Friday against Ipswich with an 8pm start although the team will be travelling to the Witches Foxhall Stadium earlier in the day for a 2.15pm League match.

In addition there will be a special six heat, four a side, veteran's match with the riders wearing the old colours of West Ham and Romford at the Arena-Essex Raceway prior to the start of the Elite League match against the Witches.

That is scheduled to start at 6.30pm.