Driver Matt Symons wins at Premier Speedway - three years after breaking neck and back

The Ayrford-based wingless sprints competitor drove into victory lane at Premier Speedway on Sunday night, completing his comeback after he was flown to hospital three years earlier.

Symons, 26, spent a week in the Alfred hospital in Melbourne, three months in a halo and a further two months in a neck brace after crashing at the Allansford track in January 2019.

He was forced off work for six months and was reduced to spectator at the speedway for two years before returning at Simpson - his home circuit - in April last year.

Winning at Premier Speedway - in just his fifth race back - was an emotional experience.

"It is a bit hard to believe but it's unreal," Symons told The Standard..

"I went to a practice day there earlier this season but that was the only time (I'd been on the track). I hadn't raced there since the accident.

"I was a little bit nervous but once you're on the track it's no worries, you don't really think about it.

"It's more when you're sitting there waiting that you think about it."

Symons, who came from fourth to win, said it was "a big weight off the shoulders".

He said he "got lucky" in his heats which put him in a strong position for the final.

"It was a bit of everything - shock and it was massive relief - and it was good to have most of the family there," he said.

"It took a few laps to get confidence back with other cars (around you) but once we got rolling, it was like it never happened."

Symons' love for motorsport - he runs a small metal fabrication business - spurred him on during his lengthy recovery period, which also included fortnightly hospital check-ups in Melbourne for the first six months.

"A lot of the doctors all said it (racing) would never happen again but I recovered better than what most of them thought so it opened the door up a bit," he said.

"I have been doing it since (motorsport) I was 12 so it's a big part of my life.

"That is what I do, I fix sprintcar chassis and wingless' chassis and build components.

"It is a massive part of life and to get back and race was massive but I never knew if I'd win again so it's pretty cool."

The thrill of racing is what encouraged Symons to re-start his career.

"We've had plenty of people looking after us, especially after the accident, and they're still hanging around," he said of the unwavering support from the speedway community.

"I am pretty competitive so you want to win every night. I just love it."

Symons said the Premier Speedway result would boost his belief ahead of the Victorian wingless title - something he is yet to secure as a racer - in Horsham at the start of February.

Other winners on Saturday night were Nathan Smee (speedcars) and Jordan Rae (formula 500s).