Speedway racer remains critical

A motorbike and sidecar. Photo / File Paul Estcourt

Speedway racer Marc Hatherley remains in a critical condition in intensive care at Christchurch Hospital after a motorbike and sidecar accident on New Year's Eve.

The 26-year-old suffered serious head injuries when the machine he was the swinger in crashed through a fence and into a steel girder in Middleton about 1.30pm.

Hatherley and the rider, Peter Stephens, had reassembled their racing sidechair at a nearby workshop and had been taking it on a test run.

They crashed about 300m away from the workshop. Neither was wearing protective gear or a helmet.