A spectacular motorcycle crash has left a Dunedin man with a shattered pelvis, broken collarbone and ankle but his passion to keep racing is intact.
He had scored a win and two seconds in the formula two races, for second overall.
Brimming with confidence, he entered open division races to compete against gruntier and more expensive bikes.
He was third in the first race but crashed "spectacularly'' coming out of a corner during the second race.
"I got the gas on too quickly and the bike slid and grabbed and threw me over the handlebars. It's a nasty way to crash,'' Lee said.
He was travelling about 110kmh, in second gear, before he was thrown.
He hit the tarmac hard and despite extensive protective gear, shattered his pelvis and broke his ankle and collarbone.
"It hurt real bad. Your first reaction is to get up and get out of the way but you just have to try and relax and go with the pain.''
He considered himself lucky as three other bikes narrowly missed him at high speeds.
"It's a miracle really ... I was very lucky not to be killed.''
He stopped the medics from cutting him from his expensive protective gear, which he wanted to preserve, and endured the pain while girlfriend Fiona Paterson removed his one-piece leather suit.
He was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital on Wednesday to recover.
He was hoping for a full recovery and retained the "passion'' for the sport.
"I will [keep racing] but I've got a long recovery in front of me.''
