Hawke's Bay superstock driver Mac Kwok's season is over after collecting a lower back injury at Sunday night's season opener at Meeanee.
Kwok, 28, who broke his back during his motocross racing days nine years ago, was in Hawke's Bay Hospital on Monday resting up and awaiting word on whether or not surgery would be required on two of his vertebrae. His father Ricky said he didn't get much rest on Sunday night as he was in too much pain.
Kwok hit the concrete safety wall square after attempting to take Hawke's Bay-based Palmerston North-contracted Shane Mellsop to the wall on lap two of the feature for their 20-strong class.
"Shane braked and Mac slid passed him. It was nothing malicious ... Shane had recorded first and second placings in the earlier heats so as a Hawke's Bay driver Mac didn't want the Palmy boy to have another top placing. He was just entertaining the crowd," Kwok snr said.
Mellsop recorded a 17.8s lap time on the way to victory in the first heat. Hawke's Bay's Thomas Stanaway matched this effort during his win in the feature.