KYLE Newman escaped with ‘only’ a damaged finger following his spectacular horror spill while guesting for Bournemouth at Weymouth last night.

It was originally feared the dynamic teenager had sustained a serious neck or collarbone injury when he drove hard into stricken Wildcats rider Luke Wiltshire, who had fallen in front of him on the first bend.

Newman, who had no time to avoid hitting Wiltshire, and the youngster’s machine somersaulted over Weymouth’s man.

And the Newport rider was also catapulted over his handlebars, slamming him heavily into the safety fence.

But Newman, who missed the rest of Bournemouth’s 49-41 challenge match triumph because he was immediately taken to hospital at Dorchester, said: “X-rays revealed nothing serious is broken, although I think I have a sprain or a crack in one of my fingers in my right hand.

“We’ll just strap it up and when it feels better take the strap off.

“It won’t bother me when I’m racing. We won’t be like a footballer. I’ll just get on with it.”

Newman, who absolved Wiltshire from any blame for inadvertently causing the incident after the inexperienced Wildcat seemed unable to turn his bike quick enough as he roared into the turn, added: “I can’t remember much about the crash.

“I woke up today thinking it was a dream. Then I was told it was true, the crash had happened.

“I just woke up and felt groggy and couldn’t even remember going to hospital.

“But nothing is broken and that’s good, so we’ll just set ourselves up for my next meeting.

“Fortunately, I don’t have one for Newport in the National League tomorrow. My next one is for Hornets back at Weymouth in the cup next Friday.

“I can remember glimpses of yesterday’s meeting, but that’s the best way, to be honest, because if you can remember everyone, you can end up thinking about it too much.

“If you don’t know, you just get on with it. It sounds a bit blunt and to the point, but that’s what we have to be, to be a speedway rider.

“I have a week off and then it’s back to Weymouth with Newport.

“We’ll just work on the bikes, get fit, go there and try to have a good meeting so Newport can go through.

“It was just a pity I couldn’t do the full meeting for Buccaneers so I could help them win and get some practice there ahead of the cup tie.”

Corfe Mullen-based Newman, who helped Buccaneers to a third-tier league and cup double last year before being controversially axed over an alleged averages’ mix-up, confirmed he will be taking his place as second reserve in the World Under-21 Championship semi-final at Landshut, Germany, on June 26.

He said: “I’ll have a chat with a couple of guys, but we’re pretty certain of going.

“If I can get into the World Under-21 semi-final I will be there. It has always been a dream of mine to get to the semi, so if you have the slightest chance, you go.

“If I want to progress in the sport I have to go. My aim is to get in the Polish and Swedish leagues.

“If we can go and get a ride or two in the meeting and score some good points or have some good races, you might get noticed by the promoters over there.

“I have already been invited to an individual meeting at Krsko in Slovenia on June 5 when Newport haven’t got a meeting and I’m going.

“It’s good to ride against different riders. You can race against the same opposition time and time again.

“If you get to win, you win, you win but you aren’t getting better.

“Racing against different opposition on their home tracks will help you get better.

“So we’ll go over and wee who we do. I really can’t wait for the Slovenia meeting and the World Under-21 semi.”

Bournemouth visit Buxton in the National League tomorrow (3pm) without unavailable Chris Mills, whose place is taken by guest Byron Bekker.

Buccaneers’ scheduled league trip to Scunthorpe on Bank Holiday Monday, August 30 has been brought forward to Friday, June 25.