Motorsport: Stunt rider Mingay hospitalised in the US

Harley Davidson stunt rider Matt Mingay entertains spectators. Photo / Getty Images

Australian racing truck driver, professional daredevil and stuntman Matt Mingay was in a serious but stable condition in a US hospital after a crash in a Stadium Super Trucks race at Belle Isle in Michigan.

The SST competition on Sunday was one of the support races at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, which features IndyCar races this weekend.

The SST tour, which involves the large high performance vehicles racing at over 100km/h on tracks with aluminium jumps, is scheduled to continue in Mingay's home town of Townsville next month.

Detroit Receiving Hospital spokeswoman Arielle Endelman said earlier on Saturday that Mingay was at the hospital and in critical condition. The SST later said the hospital was listing him in serious condition, but he was stable.

Mingay's truck overturned during the third lap of the race, which was eventually suspended after a long delay. Mingay's family said he had facial injuries, according to the SST's statement.

Mingay, 40, was well aware of the dangers of the sport and his chosen professions, which included being Tom Cruise's stunt man in Mission Impossible 2.

He recently told the Townsville Bulletin he has broken 34 bones throughout his career and joked that insurance companies will not insure him.

He has lived his life on the edge for as long as he can remember.

"I was a bit of a lunatic on a BMX, I was always a bit of a daredevil, Evel Knievel was my hero," he told the newspaper. "... Even after I had major accidents, and my parents would be like, 'That's it! You're never riding a motorcycle again!' It didn't happen."

One of his most impressive feats was breaking the world record for the fastest wheelstand on a motorcycle over a kilometre, reaching 225km/h, and the fastest nose wheelie at 212km/h.