Friends and supporters are rallying around a Northland motorbike road racer badly injured in a practice session in the United States.
Whangarei motocross champion turned professional motorcycle road racer Aaron Clark, 37, is in a Colorado hospital with head injuries, a broken pelvis, shoulder and leg injuries, theNorthern Advocate reported.
He fell from his machine while practising at a Colorado race track on October 10 and while his condition is improving - he has been taken off life support and is now breathing by himself - he has no medical insurance and his hospital bill is mounting.
His father John Clark, owner of Onerahi Bookshop and Lotto in Whangarei, mother Rae and sister Megan have flown to his bedside.
Now Aaron Clark's Whangarei friends and supporters are banding together to help.
They have set upon an account for New Zealand donations to raise money for his medical expenses.
Mr Clark, who grew up on a farm in Maromaku, 12km south of Kawakawa, was a Whangarei Motorcycle Club member who won many club and regional championships.
He made the transition to road racing in 1998, and the following year received a wildcard entry to the FIM Australian Grand Prix and went on to finish third in the Australian 250 GP Roadracing Championship.
Mr Clark moved to the US in 2000 and won the Aprilia Cup National Championship, which led to a sponsored ride in Unlimited Superbike FUSA in 2001.
