Sidecar racers Dave Atkinson and Jane Wheatcroft were lapping the famous Isle of Man TT circuit when they crashed at over 80mph.

Dave lost a pint of blood and Jane required surgery after breaking one leg and mangling the other as their bike was decimated by the impact.

The pair are now recovering at home but are planning to be back racing again next year.

Dave (46) said he thought at the time they were going to die.

The pair, who ride under the name AW Racing, were lapping on 4 June when they approached the famous St Ninian's Road junction on the circuit.

"We had been going along well and were on our final practise," Dave told the Whitby Gazette.

"Someone before us had put down some oil and the marshalls hadn't flagged so we didn't slow down at all.

"We hit the oil and the bike felt like it was on ice. I really thought we were goners."

Dave had good reason to be scared, the TT circuit is a high speed circuit that is a working road the rest of the year and a number have riders have been killed on it.

Jane (43) added: "The bike hit the kerb then two stone pillars before travelling upside down and then as it started to turn on end to end it spat us both out."

After they came to a rest, paramedics were on scene and the pair rushed into hospital.

"Dave suffered a litre of blood loss and his kidney was monitored in case of failure," said Jane.

"He was then taken to a ward to be monitored overnight. Once my assessments had been made I was rushed into emergency surgery for five hours. My left leg has two broken bones and a damaged foot and heel, my right leg has screws in my knee and wires in my foot, I also have a smashed ankle, my right elbow was plated and more wires put in my wrist."

She was flown home a few days later and is now recovering in the couple's Chubb Hill Road home.

Despite the horrific nature of the crash it has not put them off racing.

"All things considered we had a great TT experience," said Jane. "Dave is currently working on the bike while I recover so bring on 2010.

"These things happen in racing," added Dave, "We'll be back."