Southend roadracer Martin Dickens will fight through the pain barrier to contest the last round of the British Motorcycle Roadracing Championship.

Dickens, 34, will take painkillers before his two ten-lap races at Brands Hatch on October 27 as he aims for a top five finish at the Kent circuit.

The tablets will help ease the pain in his left shoulder which was injured in a high-speed crash at Cadwell Park in August.

"My ribs and wrist are OK now but I have torn some nerves in my shoulder," said Dickens, who rides a Honda RS 125cc race bike.

"I'm on pain killers to sleep and will be taking them before the race. They only problem is braking hard at Brands, but my left hand it is also my clutch hand and I do not have a lot of arm movement."

Dickens was fourth in the championship before his crash at the Lincolnshire track on August 18.

His injuries meant he missed two rounds and will now finish sixth this year whatever happens at Brands. Dickens thanked Elite Vinyl Graphics, Pole Position Motorcycles and Bargain Bikes for their support throughout the season.

And free tickets to see Dickens and workmate Andy Blueman race at Brands are available from Bargain Bikes in London Road, Leigh.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.