MOTORCYCLING.

One of England's leading superbike racers, Teddington's Pete Graves, attempts the comeback of the year, returning from leukaemia to the first round of the British Superbike Championship in six weeks.

Pete aged 29 has been shut in a sealed room since he was diagnosed with leukaemia at the end of July last year, receiving treatment for the potentially deadly cancer of the blood.

After a successful six-month treatment he left hospital at the end of January, with six weeks to regain full fitness for the first round of the 1998 championship.

Graves, who had four courses of chemotherapy during his time at Cheltenham and Hammersmith hospitals, recalls: "At first I thought I had a bug. I felt tired and could not train at nights and after a 15-minute race, it felt as if I had been on a 24-hour endurance run.

"I lost my appetite and my weight dropped to 10 stones. Finally I went to the doctor. He took a blood test - and looked pretty alarmed himself."

"In a way it was a relief to find out what I had, rather than to continue not knowing what was wrong."

Pete spent his time in hospital well, negotiating a ride with Ducati, a new team for the 1998 championships. Pete has also been writing a racing book, and music, to pass the months in hospital.

The original Cadbury's Yamaha team rider, Pete has certainly had a roller-coaster racing career.

His successes include many national wins, being one of the few private riders to make it into the top three of the British championship, and finishing on the rostrum of the 24-hour Endurance World Championships with third place at Spa Francorchamps.

By contrast, his notable disasters include a terrible year in the 500c Grand Prix World Championships, the collapse of the 1995 Yamaha team, and now leukaemia.

Pete's first race back will be round one of the British Superbike Championship, at Brands Hatch on March 29. Like all rounds of the 1998 Championship it will be shown on BBC Grandstand.

His aim for his comeback year is to re-establish his position as the leading UK privateer, by winning the privateer's cup and beating as many of the 10 official factory teams as possible.

He has already proved that such giant-killing feats are possible for a private rider, but to repeat them now must be the greatest challenge of his life.

"I would particularly like to thank the staff of Cheltenham and Hammersmith hospitals, for saving my life," he said. "Every victory for me will be a victory for them."

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