THERE are concerns over the fitness of Brady Kurtz after the Pirates star crashed in the Australian Under-21 Solo Championship.

Kurtz injured his hip when he suffered a spill in heat 17 of the meeting at Kurri Kurri in New South Wales, the 20-year-old colliding with new Poole team-mate and close friend Jack Holder.

Although Kurtz took part in the re-run, he pulled up on turn two as he was experiencing discomfort.

The former Somerset flier had already done enough to qualify for the B final but elected not to re-emerge for that race given his injury.

Kurtz told the Daily Echo: “It was just first-corner bunching and Jack went down and I was on the outside.

“There was nothing I could do to miss his bike. It was nobody’s fault, it’s just how it goes.”

Kurtz is due to undergo a scan this evening (BST).

Any negative news could present a problem for Pirates with the new season just two months away.

Holder launched a brave defence of his Aussie under-21 crown and was unbeaten in four of his five qualifying rides.

However, world under-21 champion Max Fricke prevailed in the final, with Holder second, Jaimon Lidsey third and Josh Pickering fourth.