INJURED Jay Herne has been told he could be back on a bike again in August after visiting a back specialist.

Buccaneers’ former captain, who broke a bone near his spine in a track spill at Newport in March, had feared he may never ride again.

But, although that fear still lingers in the back of Herne’s mind, he said: “I went to the specialist and he said to go back in two weeks when, hopefully, he’ll be able to take off my back brace.

“He took X-rays and, if the results are okay, the brace will come off after I’ve worn it for eight weeks.

“I asked about how long to when I can ride again and he said four months from when I crashed (which was on March 28).

“So, if the brace comes off, it’ll be two months after that.

“He said the back should fix itself, which is great news and, hopefully, in two weeks he’ll take off the brace.

“Once that’s off, he said I can start doing light training like swimming.”

Herne, whose place in Bournemouth’s team has been filled by Chris Mills, had complained the injury had left him “sitting at home pretty bored”.

But he isn’t complaining now after enjoying a hectic few days on the Continent supporting Pirates star Chris Holder in Swedish Grand Prix and Polish League action.

Verwood-based Herne added: “It was awesome being in the pits with Chris just chatting to him and stuff.

“It was just like a normal meeting, getting him relaxed in between races and then pumped up before he went out for one.

“He can’t complain about what he did in Gothenburg, getting 11 points, especially as everyone was struggling with wet track conditions.”

• The Echo is unable to interview Pirates and Buccaneers riders and staff after a ban was placed on the newspaper by the club’s promotion.