DARRYL Ritchings is still intent on a track return next month as he continues to recover from the horror crash which ended his season in April.

The young reserve was sedated in hospital for two weeks after hitting the fence in his first home race for Swindon against Coventry on April 3, missing the air bag, before astounding doctors with the speed of his recovery after coming round.

Ritchings is still suffering with bouts of tiredness and is hampered by the broken ankle he also suffered in the crash with Bees reserve Jason Garrity, but was quick to signal his intent to resume riding after returning to his family home in Purton at the end of April.

The youngster is hopeful of getting some laps under his belt at Blunsdon after a Robins meeting in September and is then keen to resume his racing career when the 2015 season comes around next March.

“Everything’s fine really, although I do have a bit of a limp and my ankles swollen, but I just get so tired sometimes,” he said.

“My aim is still to have a few laps at the end of a meeting in September, probably at Swindon, although I might go to another track first on my own at a wider track.

“I’ve been going to all the meetings at Swindon and it’s been good to watch, but I would much rather be out there riding.

“I feel hungry to get back and hopefully I can soon.”

Ritchings is also planning to return to the saddle for a gruelling cycle ride to and from Oxford next month, to raise money for the unit which treated him while he was in the John Radcliffe hospital, with a date now set for September 28.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Darryl can do so by logging onto www.justgiving.com/Darryl-Ritchings.