HEREFORDSHIRE motorbike racer Chaz Davies is hoping to be fit to continue this weekend after crashing out of the British 250cc Grand Prix for the second year running when heavy rain consumed the Donington Park circuit last Sunday.

Davies, who had also crashed in Saturday's practice session, was 16th on the grid at the start of the race.

But, as the rain came pouring down, he worked his way through the field to 11th place, only to leave the track on lap 23.

"I had hoped it would go better than it did but conditions were far from ideal," said Davies. "And we had a problem with the engine so I had to adjust my style. It was a difficult to know how hard to push and it was a bit of a gamble."

He added: "I'm a bit disappointed with the way it's gone so far this season and I'm a bit too far behind the position I would like to be in the championship.

"But in the second half of the season, we've got the tracks which I would class as my better ones so anything can happen."

Teenager Davies is now lying in 18th place in the championship for Aprilia Germany.

Sunday's race was won by Randy de Puniet who achieved his first success since victory in Catalunya last year.

The Frenchman held off the challenge of Anthony West and Casey Stoner to net maximum points, with champion Dani Pedrosa well back in fourth place.

Davies is now facing a battle to be fully fit to take part in the German Grand Prix on Sunday.

"If it had been anywhere other than his home Grand Prix, he probably would not have raced last Sunday," said his father Peter.

"He came down heavily on his hip in practice and we thought that perhaps he had a fracture as he had pain through the pelvic area and had to be helped on to his bike.

"But the doctors checked him over and he seems to have torn muscles in the pelvic region. He repairs quickly, though. He is the right age and is generally as fit as a fiddle."

After the race in Germany, Davies will then have three weeks to get himself fully fit before the next round in the Czech Republic.