A WORLD superbike star had a state-of-the-art operation at the Queen's Medical Centre after a 120mph crash left him with a badly broken leg.
Leon Haslam – whose home course is Castle Donington – was practising for a race in Assen, Holland, when he broke the tibula and fibula in his lower leg.
The 29-year-old was flown to the QMC for specialist treatment.
A metal rod was inserted down his leg from his knee – a procedure that couldn't be offered in Holland.
Haslam, who came second in the British Superbike Championships in 2008, said the break happened when one of his feet got stuck on the footrest of his bike and his other leg caught in his wheel.
He added: "It was at about 120 miles per hour. I remember it all – it was very painful, I knew I had broken it straight away. I was more disappointed than anything.
"It was on the Friday morning, at a practice session. I was looking forward to it."
Haslam, who also broke his leg last year, was flown back to Nottingham on Saturday and the successful operation took place on Sunday.
He continued: "The QMC have been great and fortunately I've been here a couple of times before.
"They wouldn't do the operation that I wanted in Holland.
"We thought it was in the best interests for me to get shipped back here."
The crash happened at turn seven in the first timed practice session on the wet Assen circuit.
Consultant orthopaedic trauma surgeon Daren Forward operated on Haslam, alongside Chris Moran, NUH's professor of trauma surgery.
Dr Forward said: "It was more difficult than usual because the break is pretty close to the joint and extends into the join."
"He could be back on his bike in a month's time and the rod means you can walk straight away.
"He's desperate to get riding again – if he had the operation abroad, he wouldn't have been able to walk for two months."
Dr Forward said that, despite his stardom, Haslam was treated just like everyone else.
"Everyone gets great care here at Queen's Medical Centre.
"He's a lovely guy, actually."
Haslam was born in Smalley, in Derbyshire, and now lives in Derby.
The race in Assen would have been part of the World Superbike racing championship – a contest in which Haslam currently stands in eighth place.
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