PIRATES bosses are anxiously hoping that star reserve Troy Batchelor has not broken any bones.

The teenager had already reeled off one heat win and was on his way to a second when he crashed heavily in race eight last night.

Batchelor picked up some unwanted grip coming off the pits bend on the third lap and his bike got caught up in the air fence.

He was flung over his machines' handlebars, landed heavily on his left shoulder and needed the use of an oxygen mask to breath for a while.

Speaking late last night, Poole team manager Neil Middleditch said: "Troy hurt his collarbone, but he didn't think it was broken because he wasn't in a lot of pain.

"His main problem was he was coughing up blood, and we didn't know whether he had just bitten his tongue or that was caused by something more serious internally.

"He could possibly have rib damage or even a punctured lung.

"The track doctor was concerned enough not to let him carry on riding, so he went to Poole Hospital for X-rays and we'll know more when he gets the result of those.

"Troy would certainly have been good for four or five more points and that was the difference between winning and drawing.

"In the end, I'm happy we drew because after eight heats I thought we would lose."