ADAM Jenkinson’s return to the race-track has been delayed after doctors discovered damage to his back.

The Knutsford rider, who fell from his bike at high speed during a round of the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship at Donington Park last month, had hoped to be back in action last weekend.

“I went to the hospital for a check-up,” said Jenkinson, who turned 31 on Friday.

“They gave me some bad news – that I’ve damaged vertebrae in my back and need a scan.

“To be safe, I decided not to race at Snetterton.

“I was gutted, of course, but I think it’s for the best.”

Jenkinson was battling for the lead when his Northern Escalator Installations-prepared machine suffered brake failure while travelling at more than 150mph.

He required surgery on a hand injury suffered in the accident.

Jenkinson had returned to work, only for his hopes to take part in the series’ fifth round to be dashed.

The braking system on his Yamaha bike has been replaced, although the team are still waiting to discover what caused the fault at Donington.

Jenkinson said: “We don’t have an answer yet on what went wrong.

“However we’ve fitted new parts to the bike, and all should be well.”

In Sunday’s race, title favourite Josh Elliott (Morello Racing) snatched victory on the final corner of the last lap, winning a dash to the line by 0.075s ahead of Alastair Seeley's BMW.

Jenkinson slips to fifth in the riders’ standings as a result.