FORMER Pirates favourite Leigh Adams will discover if he requires further surgery on his injuries in the coming weeks.

Adams’s wife Kylie, in a news release published on the speedway legend’s official website, provided an update on his condition.

The ex-Grand Prix star, who rode for Pirates in 1989 and 2003 during a glittering career, was involved in a serious crash during practice for the annual Finke Desert race in his native Australia on Tuesday.

Adams, who retired from competitive speedway in January, sustained multiple injuries including several fractured vertebrae, extensive spinal cord damage, punctured lungs, broken ribs, a broken scapula and a small fracture in his neck. The 40-year-old was flown from Alice Springs to hospital in Adelaide, where he underwent a six-hour operation on his back to stabilise and strengthen his injured spine.

Kylie Adams said: “The doctors are unsure if he will need further surgery but that will become evident in the next few weeks.

“His breathing is a little shallow as he still has bruised and swollen lungs and he constantly has to clear his throat, but he’s not too bad considering.”

Well wishes from the biggest names in speedway have flooded in since news of Adams’s crash began to circulate.

Pirates’ Australian stars posted messages of support on Twitter, with Chris Holder telling the Echo: “I send out my best wishes. There is nothing you can really do to help and you have just got to pray for him to hang in there.”