A CYCLIST is suing Hampshire double Olympic gold medal winning yachtsman Ben Ainslie for more than £50,000 damages after he was seriously hurt in a car crash with the sailor.

Ian Ray, 41, is claiming more than £50,000 in compensation after the accident two years ago.

He suffered serious head injuries in the collision on a roundabout in January 2003, and now needs intensive rehabilitation for a brain injury.

He also lost four upper teeth and sustained a spinal injury, a possible broken nose, severe facial cuts and bruises, and neck and left shoulder injuries in the accident.

Mr Ainslie, of Bath Road, Lymington, who has won two Olympic gold medals and one silver at three different Games, collided with Mr Ray on a roundabout near Itchen Toll Bridge, Southampton, according to a High Court writ.

The writ adds that Mr Ainslie, 27, has admitted liability for the crash in a letter to Mr Ray's solicitors in December 2003, but that the two sides are thought to be unable to agree how much compensation he should receive.

Mr Ainslie is branded negligent in the writ, which claims he drove his Volvo estate car into Mr Ray's bicycle, failed to give way, failed to allow the bicycle past him, failed to keep a proper look out, drove too fast in the circumstances, and failed to take measures to prevent the collision.

Mr Ray says that since the crash he has suffered from poor memory, reduced concentration, decision- making problems, loss of confidence, and difficulties with temper control.

He has also experienced heightened levels of anxiety and his plans for a career as a solicitor have been destroyed and his ability to work greatly reduced.

He now needs intensive brain injury rehabilitation in a residential unit.

Mr Ainslie has become one of the world's most famous and sought- after yachtsmen, and one of Britain's greatest Olympians, thanks to his exploits in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000 and Athens last summer.

He took the silver, narrowly behind bitter rival Robert Scheidt from Brazil, in the US before gaining revenge in Australia. He then switched from Open Laser to Finn class for his second gold in August 2004.

He has warned his rivals that he will be going for gold again in the Finn class at the Beijing Games in 2008.

When the Daily Echo approached Mr Ray at his home in West Road, Woolston, he would not comment saying he did not want to prejudice his case.

Speaking from New Zealand, where he is currently taking part in that country's America's Cup challenge, Mr Ainslie confirmed that he was aware of the case but declined to comment further.