l Local sidecar driver Michael Jackson was flown to a hospital in Liverpool midweek for urgent surgery on his right hand following a collision with the high wall at Tower Bends in Monday’s race.

Jackson and passenger Sarah Stokoe clipped the low bank on the left side going into the bends. This fired the outfit across the road where it collided with the high stone wall on the right.

The driver retained control of the machine, bringing it to a halt in the lay-by on the left approaching the Gooseneck.

Stokoe broke a couple of fingers in the initial impact, but was otherwise unhurt.

Jacko underwent a seven-hour operation on Wednesday.