KENT motorcylist Matt Read is recovering in France after a 60mph horror smash left him with a broken back and neck.

And he’s determined to get to the church on time in February to marry fiancee Claire.

Read, from Maidstone, had an operation on Wednesday to stabilise three vertebrae in his neck but is still unable to return home for up to three weeks.

Six months of rehabilitation then lie ahead, but his father, Dave, says he has no plans to postpone the wedding.

“It might take a long time to recover fully but he’s still going to walk down the aisle,” said John. “He’s young, fit and determined and that’s going to help him do whatever he wants to do.”

The accident happened during a grasstrack race at the World Longtrack Championships in Morizes, France on September 4.

Read hit the safety barrier before being rammed by a third rider and was taken unconscious to Bordeaux hospital. Read’s parents were at the race but did not immediately realise Matt was involved.

“Claire and Jackie (his mum) have been with him ever since but I have to come home for work during the week. The waiting is the hardest part and everyone’s saying they just can’t wait to see his big smile again.”

But John says the doctors are confident the 23-year-old can make a full recovery.

“It’s still early, but they are as hopeful as they can be that he will make a full recovery,” he said. “He hasn’t mentioned riding again though I dare say he will but I doubt he’ll compete at the same speeds again.”

Grasstrack riders and organisers have held a series of fund-raising events to help Read, collecting nearly £2,000 so far.

The man who introduced Read to racing 15 years ago, Paul Hurry, auctioned the Grand Slam trophy he won at September’s British Championships for £430.