Head injuries were not enough to keep Luke Smith off his bike. Photo / Doug Sherring
Three years ago it seemed Luke Smith's motocross career was over. A serious head injury left him unable to walk or talk and doctors told him to give up the extreme sport.
But in a few months the former Crusty Demons rider will perform in his first big home event
since the 2008 accident.
British-born Smith, who lives at Stanmore Bay, is one of the few Kiwis to star in Nitro Circus Live, an extreme riding event visiting New Zealand in February.
The 30-year-old has endured years of rehabilitation - learning how to remember, walk and talk, and battles with bouts of depression. "I have spent a lot of time rehabilitating myself and I didn't do that to potter around," Smith said.
"I always wanted to get back on my bike and back in front of the crowd, that is what makes me feel alive."
