THE world of speedway was rocked today following the death of a young rider at Kings Lynn.David Nix, 25, was riding in the speedway conference fixture between Kings Lynn Knights and Newcastle Diamonds last night when he crashed into the fence at the Kings Lynn track.

THE world of speedway was rocked today following the death of a young rider at Kings Lynn.

David Nix, 25, was riding in the speedway conference fixture between Kings Lynn Knights and Newcastle Diamonds last night when he crashed into the fence at the Kings Lynn track.

The accident comes just three months after Ipswich-based Lawrence Hare was paralysed for life after a crash at Newport in south Wales.

Nix was in third place in heat six when he crashed at high speed into the first bend fence.

He was attended to by the paramedics and taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the ambulance, but as a result of the medical cover leaving the stadium, the meeting was abandoned.

A spokesman for the Kings Lynn Knights said today: "At this time we do not wish to comment further as our thoughts and deepest sympathies lay with his family."

Speedway rider Carl Baldwin was injured in a race at the same King's Lynn track that claimed the life the rider last night.

Speaking to the Star last week, he told how he believed that air fences could have saved him from injury.

"I would have walked away from my accident if there had been air fences. The fence at King's Lynn caused my injuries - I have no doubt about that.

"Air fences have to come in to all tracks. Riders have got to get together and demand it, and if it does not happen, then boycott meetings.

"The fence at King's Lynn is one of the worst that there is," he alleged.

Carl was left with broken ribs, bruised lungs and damaged ligaments and will be out of action for another two weeks.

He said: "When you have an air fence it takes much of the impact but when you hit a solid fence it can be like a trampoline where your bike can fly off and come back and hit you. There is also the problem of hidden posts behind the fences which drivers can smash in to. "This has gone on for too long now.

"The bikes have got faster and have higher revs but the safety equipment has not caught up with it. They make a lot of money from television rights so they

could spend that on making the sport safer.

"Lawrence's accident was one of the worst I have seen and everyone is concerned. Surely now they have to sit up and take notice," he added.