Brave Rory not giving it up yet

RORY SCHLEIN wants to make a top-flight comeback – even though he knows it will be agony for those closest to him.

The Australian star has suffered a string of serious injuries and admitted: “My family have suffered from it.”

But he has proved his fitness with Ipswich and is now looking for a doubling-up team spot in the Premiership.

Schlein said: “Five or 10 years down the road I’ll regret it if I stop racing.

“There’s no desire to go and win a Grand Prix but I want to keep doing what I am doing.

“If the flame is still burning there’s no point in putting it out.”

Schlein, 32, has twice suffered life-threatening back injuries and was only millimetres away from being paralysed in a big crash in Poland at the end of 2015.

He made a comeback last year but then damaged his shoulder in an early-season crash, struggled on his return and was axed by top-flight King’s Lynn.

Now, though, the Darwin-born rider has revealed that he is finally racing pain-free after winter surgery to remove eight screws and two metal plates in his back.

He said: “I did come close to finishing, there was a point where I was ready to quit.

“I couldn’t get through a day without taking meds.

“However, I had the op in December and have decided I’ll give it one last crack. “I know what I can do on a bike, I just need a bit of luck and to go through a season without any injuries. “Now it’s just a case of a Premiership club giving me a go.” LAKESIDE have snapped up Jamie Couzins after a sensational trial.

Couzins, 21, took a year out last season but rode for the Hammers in a pre-season friendly at Kent last Saturday.

Chief Jon Cook said: “We didn’t hesitate to give him a contract as soon as the match ended.” BIRMINGHAM have been left stunned after winter signing Chris Hay’s walk-out for personal reasons.