NW200 crash victim McGuinness thanks wellwishers

MOTORCYCLE racing legend John McGuinness, injured in a practice session accident at last week’s North West 200, has sent a message of thanks from his Royal Victoria hospital bed for the ‘overwhelming’ support he has received since the incident last Thursday.

Morecambe rider McGuinness (45) suffered four broken vertebrae, three broken ribs and fractured his lower right leg as he crashed off the course on his Honda Superbike on the coast road between Portrush and Portstewart.

Speaking from the Royal hospital, six times North West winner McGuinness said: “I really am truly overwhelmed with the amount of support and well wishes that have been flooding in since my accident at the North West 200 last Thursday.

“Both myself and my wife, Becky, have received so much support and I cannot thank the race fans, industry people, the medical teams and fellow racers enough; all your messages do help pull me through the dark hours.

“I’m still at the Royal Victoria Hospital undergoing various treatments for my leg injury; the fixator (muscle injury aid) is still yet to be fitted as they don’t want to run the risk of infection, so at the moment it is day-by-day.”

The accident has forced McGuinness (left) out of next month’s Isle of Man TT where his win record is second only to local hero Joey Dunlop with 23 wins to Joey’s 26.

He added: “I’m not going to lie, missing the TT this year is going to hurt, but I will be watching and keeping an eye on everything!

“Good luck to all the lads heading out there; if I am able to head over then of course I will be there, but at the moment everything is day-by-day and I just have to do what I can to recover and get better.

“It’s going to be a long road ahead, but I have a great support network around me, so I have to be patient and take each day as it comes.”

McGuinness spoke as former MotoGP world champion, American Nicky Hayden, suffered serious head and chest injuries after a collision with a car while cycling in Italy. The 35-year-old, who won the MotoGP championship in 2006, was cycling on a road along the Rimini coastline when a car hit his bike.