FRED Westacott, fath-er of Newport teenage speedway rider Jamie, believes the air bag safety fence at Wolver-hampton could well have saved his 16-year-old son's life.

Jamie suffered a high-speed crash in the opening heat of the British Under-18 championship at the Monmore Stadium track - the first time he had competed at the Elite League club's track.

Westacott senior said: "I have read about the air bag safety fences and listened to discussions and now I have had first-hand experience of them.

"I would say 100 per cent that we should do more about bringing air-bag safety fences into the sport.

"I dread to think what could have happened to Jamie if it had been a solid safety fence.

"People were surprised when he got up and walked away and even more surprised when he continued with the meeting."

Westacott, riding for Reading in the Premier League and Newport GMB Mavericks in the Conference League, lined up at gate two alongside Edward Kennett, James Brundle and Mavericks teammate Karl Mason.

Westacott was battling for second place when his bike lifted and rocketed into the fence and Fred added: "I am not exaggerating when I say that Jamie was probably up to 60mph.

"We might have even been looking at a fatality - but he's walked away with a swollen right hip. All he could say was 'Dad, get the other bike ready.' God knows what would have happened to him if it had been a solid fence."

Jamie's next meeting is on Sunday for Reading in the Young Shield final but he's faced with a bill of between £7-900. Fred said: "The front end of the bike is finished. It's shaped like a banana now - and that was after hitting an air bag fence."

* Jamie had plenty of backing at the British Under-18 championship on Monday with fellow Welshman Phil Morris - his Reading skipper - Terry Brown, father of Cwmbran rider Tom and former rider Martin Williams alongside father Fred in the pits.

Newport's Karl Mason gained five points from five rides.

* Newport skipper Craig Watson finished on six points - a second, third and first places - along with Billy Hamill and Adam Shields in the Todd Wiltshire testimonial meeting at Oxford on Friday night.

The meeting, abandoned after six heats with riders getting three outings apiece, because of rain, was won by Michael Max on nine points followed by Wiltshire on eight. Sam Ermolenko was third and Nicki Pedersen fourth. Watson has two big individual meetings this week.

Tomorrow he rides in the Pride of the East meeting at King's Lynn and on Saturday goes to Stoke for the Pride of the Potteries which will also feature Tony Atkin, returning to his former club.