McGuinness eyeing NW return despite his horrific injuries

SIX-TIME North West 200 winner John McGuinness wants to race at the Triangle again — despite suffering career-threatening injuries at the event in May.

The 46-year-old suffered a serious leg injury and broke his back and ribs in a high-speed crash at Primrose Corner during practice on the new Honda Fireblade Superbike.

McGuinness doesn’t want to end his career in that fashion and is contemplating a comeback on smaller machinery if not strong enough for a Superbike.

“It is possible that I will race at the North West again, on a Supersport or Supertwin maybe,” he said. “The big bikes might just be out of reach after the injury.”

The 23-time TT winner is still undergoing treatment on his in- jured right leg, but is determined the setback won’t end his career.

“It has been tough, but bike racers are made from different gravy,” he said. “I’ve done the North West for 24 years and only crashed once when I slipped off at Juniper in 2004. If I do retire, I want it to be under my rules.

“The fans I’ve met all want me to come back. I’ve been racing a long time and have missed it. I still think I have a bit left, but I don’t have anything to prove.”

Event Director Mervyn Whyte said: “John has been a strong supporter of the North West for over two decades and has been of great assistance to me and the race team during that time. He is always willing to help promote races, to offer any advice we require and we are very grateful for that.

“We wish him a speedy recovery and he will always be very welcome at the North West 200 whether he is racing or not.”

Meanwhile, 22-year-old David Allingham from Eglinton — who finished fourth in the British Supersport Championship — and 19-year-old George Stanley — who was sixth in the Superstock 600cc Championship — competed in the Thundersport GB meeting at Donington Park at the weekend, riding EHA Superstock Aprilia’s in the GP1 class.

Allingham scored a win and two second places, while Stanley was sixth in race one, third in race two and won race three.

Elsewhere, at Mallory Park, Andrew Irwin — on his Supersport Gearlink Kawasaki — won a Superbike race from his teammate Ben Currie, with the positions reversed as the pair finished fourth and fifth in the feature Race of the Year, the first Supersport machines home.

Fighting on: John McGuinness is still recovering from May crash