SIMON Cowell grimaces in pain as he is seen in public for the first time since breaking his back falling off an electric bike.
The X Factor guru, 60, was being driven to hospital in LA for a check-up.
Simon has vowed he’ll be back to his best from spinal surgery — after being dubbed The Terminator.
Mogul Si, who came out of hospital last week, was “in good spirits” despite the pain after having a steel rod inserted when he broke his back in three places.
The X Factor supremo — who smashed three vertebrae when he was thrown from a super-powered electric bike — is recuperating at home in Malibu with partner Lauren Silverman, 43.
But he is “keen” to return to work and wants to fly to London in October for the live final of Britain’s Got Talent.
A source said today: “One of his friends joked that the metal holding him together makes him The Terminator — which amused Simon.
“He won’t mind if that sticks, but the main thing is that he’s on the mend.
“The experts are pleased with how things are looking and he’s doing physiotherapy at home every day. It’s looking good.
“Obviously, he’s trying to start work as quickly as possible and is back on the phone to his team but he is still being encouraged by Lauren and his friends to rest up for a while longer — and he knows that he needs to.
“One of their pet dogs has just had an op too, so the family have been joking that they’re recovering together!”
Adrenaline junkie Simon was hurt when a £15,000 Swind EB-01 electric bike he was testing for the first time upended in front of his and Lauren’s kids.
He was pictured for the first time today since his release from hospital as he was driven through LA in his Rolls-Royce.
In trademark aviator shades, Simon looked tired and uncomfortable as he reclined in his seat on the way back to UCLA Medical Centre.
The source said: “He left hospital quietly and has been recuperating at home since then with family. This was his first trip out of the house for a check-up on how things are healing up.”
Simon, worth an estimated £400million, had hoped to return to work imminently by recording segments to appear in the BGT semi-final but has decided to delay his public comeback.
Ashley Banjo, a former winner with his dance troupe Diversity, will step in as his replacement until the boss can return.
Simon aims to be back for the final of America’s Got Talent on September 24.
A friend said: “That’ll give him a good month of rest and recuperation.
“He wants to be at his best and look screen ready by the time he’s on live TV.”
Simon, meanwhile, has promised Lauren he will never ride the 60mph Swind bike again.
He admitted he did not read the instructions before coming a cropper. The friend added: “The whole thing was caught on CCTV and the footage is horrific.
“The power of the bike was unbelievable when he changed the setting up . . . it just flew into the air.
“Thankfully he let go of the bike as he fell backwards and it didn’t land on him.
“If it had it would have been 200lbs of weight adding to the injury and it could have been lot worse.”
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