Ekberg has picked up the nickname the North Star

Rye House Rockets rider Stefan Ekberg has retired after suffering a broken back at Workington last month.

The Swede, 38, broke five bones in his back in a crash similar to one that kept him out for 18 months in 2008.

"It has not been an easy decision to make but after the last crash, I felt very uneasy," said Ekberg.

"The same pain in my back, the ambulance, the hospital and so on. You start thinking a lot. It feels that it's starting to get too much now."

Ekberg joined the Rockets from the Glasgow Tigers in the middle of the 2007 season to help the Hertfordshire club to the Premier League title.

The events at Derwent Park put a different light on matters, and I could not be a party to encouraging him to take further risk Rye House promoter Len Silver

Rye House promoter Len Silver added: "It would be an understatement to say that I am very, very dismayed by what's happened.

"Up until what occurred at Workington, I had every intention of including Stefan in the team next year, and he was keen to ride.

"Unfortunately the events at Derwent Park put a different light on matters, and I could not be a party to encouraging him to take further risk."

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