North West 200 Ends In Tragedy - Again

The North West 200 road race is again under scrutiny after a new tragedy.

As the family of Cookstown motorbike rider Mark Young, 23, face up to his death in hospital on Sunday - after being injured in a crash at Mathers Cross on Saturday - the accident has focused attention on the dangerous nature of road racing.

Mr Young was an experienced rider who had been racing since 2002 and even won four Irish national road race, although it was the first time he had taken part in the NW200.

Another rider, Antrim's John Anderton, remains in a critical condition in hospital after crashing during a practice session on Tuesday.

Another rider, Christian Elkin is in a stable condition after breaking a leg during the closing stages of Saturday's 250cc race.

Course clerk Mervyn Whyte said everyone was "devastated" by the tragedy.

But he stressed that regular risk assessments were carried out to try to make the course as safe as possible.

"It is a high speed sport, we will get accidents at the North West 200," he said.

"We have competitors from all over the world. In reality, there are less fatalities in motorcycle racing compared to the like of horse jumping and other events. The competitors want to take part."

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster this morning, he also said that he was considering his position.

He said there was a huge amount of work involved and that it was increasingly difficult to ever put the road race out of mind, and he would take some time to consider his post in future events.

At last year's North West 200, motorcycling star Robert Dunlop was killed in an accident in the same area during a practice session.

Meanwhile, a man from Wales has died after a crash involving three motorcycles on the outskirts of Portrush.

He died in hospital following the crash, which happened at about 7pm on Saturday on Dunluce Road.

A woman and three other men were hurt in the pile-up. Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

It is believed they were returning home after attending the final day of racing at the North West 200.

Appealing for witnesses, a police spokeswoman said they particularly wanted to speak to the driver of a silver Isuzu Trooper who is believed to have stopped at the scene for a short time before travelling on.

See: North West 200 'Carnival' Praised