Two riders were taken to hospital following a crash during a North West 200 qualifying session on the first day of the north coast event.
Northern Ireland’s Gary McCoy was transported to hospital by ambulance while Englishman Craig Neve was taken from the circuit by air ambulance following the crash six minutes into a Supersport qualifying session, just before noon.
“Two riders were involved in an incident at Mill Road roundabout on the NW200 course six minutes into the Supersport qualifying session,” the race organisers said in a statement.
One rider had to be airlifted to hospital following crash PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN
“Both riders were injured in the incident and the on-course medical team attended the scene. The riders were subsequently transferred to hospital, one by road ambulance and the other by air ambulance.”
Red flags were displayed to halt the session and there was a long delay before racing resumed. The 8.9-mile stretch of road needed to be re-opened for normal traffic at 3pm.
Peter Hickman topped the time sheets in the Superbike class on his 8Ten Racing BMW during the opening qualifying session.
Further practice is scheduled to take place on Thursday, with roads closing from 9am to 3pm, followed by three scheduled races on Thursday evening.
The injuries to the riders at the NW 200 follows the deaths earlier this week of England’s Owen Jenner, 21, and New Zealander Shane Richardson, 29, following an 11 rider crash at the British Supersport Championship race at Oulton Park in Cheshire.