BARKER BLOW

BEN Barker is set for time out having undergone emergency surgery to remove his appendix.

The recent Birmingham signing hit the back straight fence in Heat 6 of the Brummies’ ROWE Motor Oil Premiership match at Sheffield on Thursday, remarkably staying on his machine to complete the race.

However, having finished the meeting in severe discomfort, the scale of the problem then became evident.

A statement on his Facebook page said: “He would call 111 once he returned home and was told to go straight to A&E, which he did, and was informed he would need to have his appendix removed.

“He had successful surgery this (Friday) afternoon and is now in recovery.

“He will now be off the bike for a while whilst he recovers and in typical Ben fashion is determined to do everything he can to be back fighting fit ASAP.”