A TT rider left with life-changing injuries following an unprecedented crash says he has not been allowed to see the official investigation report into his accident.

Steve Mercer is still receiving in-patient treatment in a rehabilitation centre for limb and spinal injuries following the incident during a TT qualifying session last year - and says there is a realistic prospect that he could lose a leg.

He was critically injured when a group of red-flagged TT riders were allowed to travel back to the Grandstand the ’wrong way’ round the course.

At Ballacrye, near Ballaugh, his machine collided head-on with a course car, which was travelling at high speed - reportedly at more than 100mph - on its way to the accident which claimed the life of Manx TT star Dan Kneen.

An independent inquiry into what could have been a multiple-fatality collision was launched by race organisers the Auto Cycle Union.

Led by lawyer Rob Jones, a former chief executive of the Motor Sports Association, it was held in private and, outside the ACU, the report has only been released to a few political members and officers in the Department for Enterprise.

Astonishingly, even Mr Mercer has not been allowed to see a copy.

Speaking from his bed in the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, he said: ’How no one got killed is a miracle. I’m the unluckiest luckiest person. I’ve still got a lot of issues with my leg and spine.’

He said: ’I have not seen the report. I have not been allowed access to the report. I do believe I should be able to see it.

’I got on to the ACU to ask for it but nothing materialised.

’I’ve no idea what happened. I’m still unaware of what actually happened and what went wrong.

’All I know was I was sent on a collision course.

’A marshal told us to turn round and head back the other way. You do what you are instructed to do by the marshals.

’The last couple of guys were pulled over by a marshal but they never caught the front of us. I remember seeing the car, it was flying, and then I remember waking up five days’ later. That’s about it really.’

Mr Mercer confirmed he is talking to a solicitor over possible legal action in relation to the accident.

’Obviously there was a communications breakdown, that’s apparent to anyone. I’m just shocked by the whole thing, I’m still shocked. Someone made a serious error and it could have killed us all quite easily.’

He said: ’I’m still in hospital now. I’m in a rehab unit, they are trying to find a bit of life in my leg.

’I’ve got spinal chord issues. I’m in a wheelchair, I can’t stand up and I can’t walk. It’s very difficult.

This is my second week in the rehab unit and I’m here for the next six weeks. It’s a really slow slog.’

Mr Mercer said there is a ’realistic possibility’ that he could lose a leg.

He said the fundraising and messages of support immediately after the accident ’showed how close the motor racing community is’.

’Of course I was asleep through all that. A big love to them all,’ he said.

It is understood that the ACU report has made a number of recommendations for changes to this year’s TT including a full review of marshal training, additional training for those in race control and all course cars and travelling marshals must have tracking devices.

A ban on riders travelling in the wrong direction on the TT course, implemented after the accident, will continue.

But Mr Mercer said: ’At the end of the day I was a rider, I race roads in a controlled area. It’s not my responsibility to make up the rules, it’s their responsibility.’

Remarkably, he added: ’I would love to race again - but it won’t be tomorrow. I will definitely ride a bike again. It’s my dream to ride my bike again. You’ve got to have goals. That’s what gets me up in the morning. You dig deep and push forward.

’There are things I still want to achieve in life - it can’t end like this.’

The ACU told iomtoday: 'The independent inquiry into the Steve Mercer incident has been finalised and considered by the ACU Board of Directors. This final report is a privileged document for legal reasons but the recommendations of the report are being implemented where appropriate.’