Heibner in critical condition

HEAD INJURY: Superstock driver Kyle Heibner remained in an induced coma in Wellington Hospital yesterday following a crash at Wanganui's Ocean view speedway at the weekend. PHOTO/FACEBOOK KYLE_HEIBNER

Superstock driver Kyle Heibner is in a critical condition in Wellington Hospital with a head injury after a crash at the Wanganui Speedway races at Oceanview at the weekend.

The 21-year-old Wanganui-born driver, who now lives in Nelson, was placed in an induced coma and transferred to the capital following the crash in race two of the meeting at Oceanview.

Heibner is part of the Wanganui Warriors team that finished second in the 2015 Enzed Superstock Teams Champs in Palmerston North the week before. Heibner won the Spike Richardson Memorial Trophy for most outstanding driver of the weekend for the second year in a row, an unprecedented achievement in the 30-year history of the competition.

Warriors team manager and Heibner's father Steve Heibner said doctors were monitoring pressure in his son's head before deciding when to bring him out of the induced coma.

"It (the crash) wasn't a big hit, but Kyle had to be cut out of his car and they canned the rest of the meeting," Heibner said yesterday.

"He's had a brain bleed and is in a critical condition. He had some big hits and gave some big hits in the New Zealand teams champs last week in Palmerston North, but there was no indication of any concussion before Wanganui at the weekend.

"He is still in an induced coma so his brain can rest and get the time it needs to start to heal. We still don't know exactly how long it will be before they start to wake him, but the doctors will make that decision when he's more stable."

Heibner senior praised the superstock national officials, on-track paramedics and Wanganui and Wellington Hospital staff for their efforts.

"His mother Donna and I have been blown away by the amount of people sending messages of support ... and we would like to say thank you to them all."