Episode 4 Bikes!

Regretfully a young rider from Bolton, 20-year-old Malachi

Mitchell-Thomas lost his life in Saturday's racing at the North West

200. He was one of the rising stars of the sport. His family has

expressed a wish that we continue with our highlights show this

evening. The beautiful North Coast of

Northern Ireland boasts some stunning scenery. It's home to

well-known tourist attractions like the Giants Causeway, the character

read Rob Ridge and mustn't Temple. The golf Open Championship will be

played at Royal Portrush in a few years time but every me, this area

is famous for one thing. Bikes! Welcome to our third highlights

programme from this year's Boxall International Northwest to Hundred.

Here is what is coming up tonight. Lots more high-speed action in the

Superbike class. And also the Supertwins. We catch up with a

former world champion, returning to the scene of his north-west victory.

And road racing legend John McGuinness picks up one of

motorsport's highest honours. So far we have had some breathtaking

racing. Records broken, at the Northwest.

This specially designed helmet belonging to Alistair Seeley, in

pole position for the Superbikes. Is he the favourite? We have to say his

favourite, he's now the biggest winner at the Northwest 200, but

this is the daddy, the big race of the day, Superbikes, the ultimate

bike that you can ride. The wind is behind them, speeds of at least 205

miles an hour wind towards Coleraine. One man who wants this is

Michael Dunlop, showing form in the last Superstock race, he will be

forced to be reckoned with. We cannot wait.

COMMENTATOR:, third race of the day. Michael Rutter, number eight. This

is the big one. Seven laps. 220, 230 brake horsepower. Alistair Seeley

climbing on top of the bike. There is the grid.

What a front row. Not a bad second row. That could be good on the Tyco

PM W. Gary Johnson... John McGinn is...

That is some grid. They have had to put bigger fuel tanks on these

bikes. They used to be able to come in and fill up with fuel. A lot of

them had to fit a full 24 litre tank. Who will put that to best use?

Michael Dunlop's camera facing rear words. He wants this so badly. Bruce

Anstey hasn't yet got his podium finish. Look how far back he is

starting. Way back on the four. Watch the lights.

This first Superbike race of the weekend gets under way. Michael

Rutter hanging it into Turn 1. Bruce Anstey from row four.

Trying to fight his way. Bruce Anstey, not a good qualifier but we

know how fast he is. The Honda, they have got that singing. Alistair

Seeley in second. Lee Johnston in fourth. On board with Alistair

Seeley, going back into third. Up towards the Mill Road Roundabout.

Alistair Seeley, we know he is not fazed by a slow start but he did not

want that. Wiley... It is Ben Wiley! No, no, that was bad. He hit the

back... I cannot see, but he lost ground. There we go... Hickman, a

really good start. John McGuinness, lapping faster. Bruce getting very

racy off the grid. Looking for the inside. Down towards the corner.

Back in real time... Look at this. Impressive stuff. Wriggling and

weaving. All trying to squeeze through. Last orders at week's bark.

Three bikes on the same side of the road, really tight. Rutter...

Shoulder to shoulder with Alistair Seeley. Round the outside... Has he

over done? The backbreaker on, everything on. Rutter going wide,

losing a load of ground. All going on. We are on board with Bruce

Anstey. He is right there with Michael Dunlop. Good for him. I

think Michael Rutter had to set up to get out of the way. They were

right in the mix, going for the corner. After all we said about this

man taking it easy! He was not. Alistair Seeley, you can see from

the helicopter, how far back he was. The Honda is singing. Gone through

this speed trap at 209 miles an hour. That is the fastest we have

ever seen. That was Bruce Anstey. This man at the front, Ian

Hutchinson. Making his way to the front. I am not looking, I would

prefer to be down here. This is much safer. Those boys are on it at the

front. It has been a long time since we had a dry, sunny track to raise

Superbikes on the Northwest 200. They are enjoying this outing. Gary

Johnson, in second place, done a good job to get up to there. The

number seven bike. Still close together as they go down

towards the Metropole. Hopping in and out of the slipstream. I cannot

imagine how Bruce Anstey got there. He passed about six people. Here he

is again, Michael Dunlop. He has gone, no comment he hasn't,

stillbirth. Dunlop easing him out. Through church corner, 210 miles an

hour. We thought maybe it was a mistake, but there is no mistake

today. We saw how far Bruce Anstey was and how fast he was. Some

problems in qualifying but buying on it. Ever since he arrived, he has

always had a podium. Riding for one now and they are racing over the

coast road. This is, shoulder to shoulder. That is really close,

Hutchinson leading, he would like to make it more than one win.

Clive Paget is not going to believe that. Coming through in second,

Bruce, at the end of Lap 1. Extraordinary. The Hawk

Bruce, at the end of Lap 1. Michael Dunlop is our chauffeur.

Hutchinson it is, they are also close. Going over the line, John

McGinn is at the tail end of what is still a fairly long train for the

leading group. Gary Johnston going well, credit for that, Lee Johnston,

on the Superbike, he is hurting but he is ignoring it. Alistair

Seeley... Got some work to do. Hasn't he? My goodness, that was

Peter Hickman, he has missed a corner! And he lost a place as a

result. But he is back on it, straight away. Michael Rutter

benefited. Gary Johnson nipping past Bruce Anstey. We are with Bruce

Anstey. Back to third. He was fastest here, interesting to see

what happens. Down towards Station Corner, there is the helicopter. Has

to get a bit of a lead to stay with these guys. It has to start the run

from in a dive to Univeristy Corner, to keep up. You can see why far back

Alistair Seeley is. Coming up towards Univeristy Corner... Losing

somewhat time. Empty road in front. Michael Dunlop trying to squeeze

down the inside. I think he has done that, or has he? Side-by-side with

Lee Johnston. Hutchinson, Johnston, Bruce Anstey. On board in third

place. Over the link road towards Ballysally Roundabout. Clive Paget,

he is a genius with an engine and a motorcycle all-star the Honda team

including John McGinn is and Conor Cummings, investigating to make it

more aerodynamic. All developed by the world Superbike team. We are on

board with Michael Dunlop. John McGinn is, essentially, the Honda he

rode back here. They just keep doing things to bring it up to date and

keep it competitive. They are closed up. Bruce Anstey, you wouldn't

believe he is 46. His beard is 46! It is, it is a link him down. If

they chop the bottom off, it would be 210. Here he comes, a combination

of power. On the outside, surely. But Julie touching. They have

touched. I think he came close. He lost a lot of time. He did not

get back through those years. Running out of road. He tried to

come out of the chicane I think in third gear. Down towards Metropole,

three white. Lee Johnston, Michael Dunlop looking to get back in that

position but not happening. And through the go, Hutchinson in the

lead. Into Church Corner. It could be anyone these seven riders. Wake

up the hill, on board with Bruce Anstey as he goes on the bridge. The

bikes working so hard. 225 brake horsepower. Not much faster than

Superstock at 210 is just ridiculous. That was a nice move

from Bruce Anstey. Here they are spreading out. What else helped a

great deal, racing Bruce showed up and we have not seen him all week.

My goodness, he got that badly wrong. Rather than go up the slip

road, it is easy to do that but you lose more time. A bit of grass

tracking. On board with racing Bruce. As we go through the end of

this lap and dark out onto the circuit. Hutchinson just in front.

Michael Dunlop and Lee Johnston put up for me they were the favourite

for this race. They are the main protagonists. At the start of the

week I had no idea where to put my money down but Thursday morning I

remember saying I would put all my money on Michael Dunlop. I'm still

convinced this is his best chance of winning here. I think it is a

rehearsal for the second Superbike race later on, the North West 200.

Moved up into 14th now, making up the time. But will never catch these

guys. You could get up into the top ten, Hutchinson again, he had

gearbox problems for the top he said he could not get second year.

Luckily no one went into the back of him. If the bike in front of you

does not grab appear it is so easy to just ram them. We have seen this

before, Michael Dunlop going straight past. The Hawk BMW really

has got some horsepower. Here comes Bruce Anstey. Riding with him again,

he pulled out the slipstream, it did not quite work. Hutchinson back in

front weaving through. And it is Michael Rutter. Just swapping

positions as if it is just a little traffic jam. Hickman coming back

into contention as well. Over the link road we go, a very popular

leader at the front of the pack. Michael Dunlop heads Hutchinson,

Bruce Anstey and Michael Rutter. Then a couple of Honda bikes. John

McGuinness and Cummins. They're doing it again, they just get on

these big bikes and treat them as if they are small toys but they really

are not. There is Michael Rutter, whose Anstey making up that time

that he lost. He has got himself back together and I think

Hutchinson, he may continue to miss those gears. The bike is in a huge

knot, keeping the throttle and the whole time. We will see if he can

get down through the gears this time. I think he will do. He has got

it sorted out this time. There is the number three, Hawk BMW, chased

by the Honda. Supposedly long in the tooth. Michael Dunlop, his advantage

as they turn in, first and second place, over the white lines and on

the gas. The crowd just enjoying this terrific race, loving the fact

that Michael Dunlop is in front. They're all cheering and waving as

Michael Dunlop pulls into the lead. Not over yet but Michael Dunlop

thinks it might be, beginning to pull away. Beginning to ease away.

Bruce clinging on to stop of the two I think the Honda is the faster, it

sounds ridiculous as it is quite an old motorcycle but Clive Paget keeps

working away on it. The Honda can be as fast as anything else out there

and it is proving it. Ian Hutchinson in third place at the moment,

Michael Rutter has not given up hope either. John McGuinness, right with

these guys. It bodes well for him for the TT. Hanging in there quite

comfortably. Some teams have different objectives and John

McGuinness might be happy to see how easy it is to stay with this bunch

as the go round. But Michael Dunlop, he only has one objective and that

is the chequered flag at the end of the race. Of course the tyres will

come into it. Hutchinson has a bit of a moment there, they will not be

as good at the end of seven laps. These have a much harder compound in

the middle of the tire. They have got to be quite a hard compound and

stiffness in the centre to cope with that power. 225 brake horsepower

reinforced through the air, it puts so much heat into the tyres. Bruce

Anstey and Michael Dunlop easing away as they go around the

roundabout. And the gap opens up again as they go on the throttle.

Bruce Anstey looking at Michael Dunlop disappearing up the road. Not

that far away, but not close any more. A little bit too far I think

for him to be in the slipstream. Hutchinson will be using his rear

brake trying to hold it back down. Michael Dunlop and not a lot behind.

Objects in the mirror are further behind than you think. He is

clearing off. It looks that way. Nice and steady into the Mather's

Cross chicane. Quite handsomely going on, Michael Dunlop. Bruce the

only one kind of going with him. Not really closing him down but he has

split from the other group. It is not a breakaway group any more. A

breakaway leader. I think the rest just beginning to really in third

place. It looks like Michael Rutter. It is Michael Rutter, number eight

going in there. There are close behind him. Still so close. And the

race has been going on for a while. They have not opened up. Here is

Bruce. Doing everything, really animated. That was animated!

Hutchinson and Michael Rutter. And here is the number three, Dunlop,

just slams that down into the corner. Bruce Anstey has gone down.

He was on wide line. That is Church Corner. The Paget Honda is down.

Bruce having a word with himself I think upfront. I suspect he is, I

think that he missed the apex. He should've taken the road. That

really will open things up. Change things enormously for Michael

Dunlop, on the road by himself. Hutchinson in second and then

Michael Rutter and Peter Hickman. Bruce Anstey hopefully we'll be fine

after that. He went into those big foam cushions that absorb the

impact. But he just missed the apex. We will ride on board with him on

the replay. Squeezing those breaks, he goes in pretty hard. That would

be a second gear corner. He tried to get it around and it is not happen.

This is a battle between Michael Rutter and Peter Hickman. I wonder

if they will carry on, there could be some debris on the track. We will

have to find out. The red flags are out, and that will be for the

incident with Bruce Anstey. They have all got to come back now and

regroup. Such a crowd watching today. Treated to a splendid display

of racing from the best road racers in the world. A fantastic race.

Michael Dunlop, Ian Hutchinson, Michael Rutter the top three. Peter

Hickman just off the podium. Michael, congratulations. What a way

to win the race with an outright lap record as well. Not a bad case. A

big difference from last year. I knew I could pull the pin and just

decided to see if I could do one. The big bike working so well. We had

a lot of changes to make up the boys worked all day after 30 practice.

Just nice to win the big bike race. That is the way it goes. To win the

Superbike is class. What does it mean to you here flying the flag for

the Dunlop family, we know Alistair Seeley has already taken the record

from your dad but for you important to put your name up in lights again?

It is another one on my tally. The big machine, Fairplay, we have got

sponsors but no big manufacturer pushing us. Stewart and Steve have

done all they can. And how good was that lap to give you the race when?

I made a couple of silly mistakes. Should have run a bit quicker in

some places. I did not know I had got the lap record. I thought it was

OK. Let's stick in another good one. I saw the flag and was not quite

sure. But yes, good. One interested spectator here this

year is the former world Superbike star Carl Fogarty. Well-known to

many of course for his exploits in the television series I'm a

celebrity get me out of here. The king of the jungle is fondly

remembered in Northern Ireland for his North West 200 win back in 1993.

Gavin Andrews spent the day with him.

I have sunshine wherever I go! Ids the moment when you miss the

bus? On a day like today, a circuit like this, I used to love racing

here especially in this kind of weather. I feel nervous for these

guys. How will they be feeling now? Like anything else, you just want

the flag to drop and get on with it. It is just the hanging round, that

is the worst bit. You just want to get going and do the best you can.

How would you fancy going round on some of this new machinery? I would

love it. Not sure about 600, but I would love it. Tell us about 1993,

when it all came together? Just relief more than anything. Try to

win the race a few years before that, on the Honda in 1991 and 1992.

But we had reliability bottoms with the Honda. So it was more belief

than anything to finally crossed the line and win the first race. I had

been trying for so many years, it was a relief to finally win. Still a

welcome return to the Northwest for Carl Fogarty one of the most

decorated riders in motorcycling. Another one is John McGuinness, who

recently was presented with one of the most prestigious awards in

motorsport. It feels really cool, really special. It is hard to put

into words. I have been racing a long time, 26 seasons. Never thought

I would be sat in that group. With Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Stirling

Moss. All behind us on the wall. We are in good company! We are here.

I'm really touched by it. Really pleased that they recognised what I

have achieved. I have put my heart and soul into it for years and nice

to get the reward back. A gigantic tribute to extremely nice person. As

a genuine person, very friendly person. Above all, a brilliantly

talented rider. He rides not just with his body and reflexes but most

importantly with his head. Everybody is a road race fan, I

think. I think they just don't know it yet.

The next race is for the Supertwins. The first race in this class was of

course red flagged because of an accident involving Darren Cooper and

Ryan Farquhar. Both were taken to hospital, Cooper released, Ryan

Farquhar was airlifted to Belfast and underwent surgery. Cause the

news from the hospital is more positive his team decided to race on

today. We are doing this for Ryan, I hope he was racing, but it's what he

would have wanted, we took a decision, in light of his recovery

is coming along... Philip Jeromy is a former winner of this race, he

must we one of the favourites. He is but he has three good guys in front

of him. Ivan Lewis ten, previous winner, Martin Jessop who wants his

first win. Peter Hickman who has been on the roster already and

behind Tim Newcomer, malachite Mitchell Thomas who wants a rostrum

at the Northwest 200. Let's join the commentary team. -- Malachi

Mitchell-Thomas. COMMENTATOR: the Supertwins going

ahead, the team says they want that to happen and every team

understands. Darren Cooper will not be out there, nor will James

Hillier, but we still have Ivan Lewis ten and he would like to add

to that win that he took on Thursday night. A big chance for him, perhaps

for Martin Jessop? Paul Jordan, here is the grid. Not all of these names

will be out there. Ryan Farquhar and Dan Cooper missing. McWilliams, Paul

Jordan, will be. Malachi Mitchell-Thomas in 10th place, did

not enjoy his qualifying but says he races better than he practices. The

weather continues to show its face to us in sunshine.

Jordan getting away well. Ivan Lintin running straight on... Jeremy

McWilliams, 99 was in there. Hopping into third. Danny Webb, number

three, the back of him going into the rise... They do not really quite

as much. 95 brake horsepower. On board with Michael Sweeney. Slower

than the 600 Supersport, heavier. They are. These are without doubt

the slowest bikes on the course but they normally produce great racing.

Martin Lennon, frontwheel up in the air. Came off the front row, good

start, back with James Calton. Mill Road Roundabout. Into the

countryside for the first time. Here is the start... We are on board with

James. Malachi Mitchell-Thomas, streaking through. Danny Webb,

number three. In front of us, they go through Millbank Avenue. Back

with the leaders. I then pulling the pain already, look at the advantage

already. I don't think you can see leaders, you have got to said

leader, Ivan has cleared off. The slipstream at work for Martin

Jessop. His bike has been fast. They have done some work on the

aerodynamics. It is working extremely well. Look at them, their

shoulders. We are on board with Michael Sweeney. Most of these bikes

start off as an ER six Kawasaki and get modified. Number 22... All

Jordan. I don't know if he made to the corner but he was up on the

grass. On the link road, coming back, conditions could not be

better. Lovely day to go racing. Martin Jessop doing nicely, thank

you. What the fans would like to see is a good result for K M R. Ryan

Farquhar's class of racing. Ivan in slow motion, Martin Jessop

behind him. You get to see all the suspension moving around, the guys,

look at them, Malachi Mitchell-Thomas, getting his head

down. You can see the throttle posting as hard as he can. The

Supertwins, Ryan Farquhar's class, the team want a result but lots of

people want a result, Michael Sweeney, always goes racing to win.

At the moment, Ivan Lintin doing the winning. Martin Jessop behind him.

Something of a super twin specialist. Very much so, won his

first TT in this class last year, one here on Thursday night. That was

close enough, Danny Webb, number three. Ripping past. Ryan Farquhar

and Cooper going out. He got the race win, he is leading, doing a

great job here. Probably leading here tonight. The breakaway group at

the front. Not as close as we expect the Supertwins to be. Part of the

reason, all of those spaces on the grid. That is given Ivan Lintin the

opportunity to break early. Not a long race. Not at all, on board with

Michael Sweeney, using the slipstream, is he going through the

middle? Malachi Mitchell-Thomas tipping it in in front of Jeromy

McWilliams, McWilliams would love to win this race Ryan Farquhar who is

recuperating in hospital. Fourth place, McWilliams. Following Malachi

Mitchell-Thomas... It is all turns from here to the old Rob corner. Up

towards Blackhill... If they are going to pull in Ivan Lintin, it

will have to be done on the twist and turn. He has definitely pulled

the pin, made his break, I think he has got away with it, other people

might have other ideas. Malachi Mitchell-Thomas and third, Jeromy

McWilliams close enough in fourth. Jeromy McWilliams changing bikes,

looking around, seeing Martin Jessop, Jeromy McWilliams, 52,

doesn't seem to be slowing at all, he has been riding lots of bikes.

Jeromy McWilliams, very experienced. He knows he cannot... Look at

this... Malachi Mitchell-Thomas... Alistair Seeley... Puts him up on

the grass, I think Martin Jessop was not expecting that. I do not think

he was, he did not need a second invitation, straight past. Malachi

Mitchell-Thomas moving up a place, into second place. Jessop will not

be impressed, the youngster... Well, it is racing. It is racing, a

short-circuit move, we have seen Alistair Seeley do it in that

chicane, few people have copied him, obvious this young has seen the

videos. Over the grass, Jessop goes, understands he has room to do that,

does not have done the right gear, grass and dirt on his tyres. Number

40, take him a little file to clean up. Still swearing in his helmet.

Malachi Mitchell-Thomas did not leave him a bunch of room. But he

committed to the corner and there is only room for one motorcycle at that

point but this man doesn't need to have any aggravation, he is already

stretching that advantage, lap after lap. We came here with murder being

lap older, Ivan Lintin to get to over 109 on Thursday night and there

is a good chance it will go here. We are in the right direction, the

wind... Stretching out the lead. This road is so narrow. If your car

filled one side of it, that is how narrow it is. We take it down the

right-hand side... That is James Calton again... Michael Sweeney

coming back, these two will have a fair old battle. Ivan Lintin...

Looking at his breaking ma, riding his line, pulling away. They are all

tripping over one another, lap after lap, that is Danny Webb... That is

one place up for everyone behind him. Second, Malachi

Mitchell-Thomas. Martin Jessop in third. And look at the lead Ivan

Lintin has got. That is not the slipstream of a lead. You would not

think they can bridge that gap. He was very fast on Thursday night, it

looks like Jessop is coming back. His head stays firmly down, he has

got his position back and look at this... The slow motion shots. The

rear tyre, deforming, trying to bite into the tarmac. You can see the

eyes of Jessop, staring at Malachi Mitchell-Thomas. He has got his own

back and he did it cleanly, we have seen some things on the long

straights but none of that this time. Malachi Mitchell-Thomas has

another chance. The inside of Jessop... The inside line. This is

the slipstream, pulling the bike along. Realising there wasn't enough

track to do so, pulling to the left. That gap doesn't seem to be

diminishing. Those two are busy fighting... That must have touched,

that was an elbow in the camera. Great racing. From these two, both

of them, nice young chaps in the paddock but when you put your visor

down, you put your helmet on... That was an elbow in the eye from

Sweeney. I am sure that James Calton will not mind that and I am sure he

will be looking for a chance... Look at Sweeney. Huge amount, I think he

got out at the chicane really well. You see the back wheel. Nicely done.

Putting it through, James Cannon ten, smart looking machine. All the

time, Ivan Lintin, he seems to be mailing every apex. Getting in the

right gears at every point. Carrying his speed. A perfect race for him.

Stretching out even more. A lovely, stylish rider. But you do not see it

very often, they are usually in the mix, rather like Sweeney. Martin

Jessop deciding not to do the thing in the chicane! Will he do it next

time? Not really close enough. I don't think so but I think he has

already worked it out that his bike seems to be carrying everything,

they worked out the aerodynamics. A lot of them will have different

swinging arms... Changing all the bodywork. Lots gets changed. You can

see Jessop working at, well out wide, into the dust. He wants to get

close and sweep past on the run out towards University Corner. Just over

half race distance. Ivan and ten will be looking at his pit board. I

think Jessop has a good chance of getting past Malachi Mitchell-Thomas

when they get to the slipstream area. Mill Road Roundabout, you go

right, around the roundabout the wrong way, it is bumpy, dusty, you

have got to get out of bed as fast as you can because you need every

mile an hour going up this straight. You carry all the speed that you get

on the exit. This is past the fuel station, heading towards a Station

Corner, on Thursday night we had a problem with this... Hopefully

tonight we will not have any of those issues. Bad lead looks like it

is continuing. Even the Supertwins, 158-160 miles an hour, breathtaking.

165 miles an hour through the speed trap. Look down there and see what I

can see. Martin Jessop in front of Malachi Mitchell-Thomas, the

slipstream has done its thing, carrying him past. I think it has a

lot to do with aerodynamics, look at the different frontal areas. It is

so important on these bikes, back with Sweeney. James has been doing

this all race and they are probably going to carry on... Look at that

Aquila, they will probably carry on. Valley Sally, a round they go...

These bikes come naked from the shops, it is a bit of a

do-it-yourself affairs so there is scope to do something. But of

course, what is the biggest are problem? It is you. If you are a

small rider and you can tuck yourself and it helps, these are

narrow machines but you have just got to look at this bike, the

riders, it looks a little bit prettier and smaller on the front

because Jessop, he is not small, and Malachi Mitchell-Thomas is not a

small person. He is not as tall... He leaves no gap, nice and tight.

James Cowton coming through the Chicane, trying to get on Michael

Sweeney as soon as they come out and get on the power again. Michael

Sweeney looked over. They all run with different exhaust systems, some

twin, some single pipes. Depending on what you have got the most power

from. Coming up the other side. Sweeney looks across. Standing a bit

on its nose. The front wheel came off the ground then. Just about. 95

Rick was poor and they start off with about 65. There is just nothing

in it. -- 95 Rick horsepower. In all honesty they are quite stretched.

Meanwhile the race leader, Ivan Lintin, veering off into the middle

distance. Jessop probably cannot see Ivan Lintin at this point. Sparks

coming off, he just clipped the kerb with his exhaust. Another red flag

in the super race. We never like to see the red flag. And we have a race

result declared. Ivan Lintin wins his second race of the week on a red

flag. Martin Jessopp, second. Jeremy McWilliams instead face.

Congratulations, a double. Both in unfortunate circumstances, really. I

have not seen a chequered flag properly yet. But I will take those

winds from the event. Unfortunately Malachi

Mitchell-Thomas died as a result of an incident on the coast road

section of the course. He was treated by paramedics at the scene.

But sadly they were unable to save his life. The 20-year-old, who was

racing for the Cookstown -based John Burroughs team, was one of the

brightest prospect of the sport. His father Kevin paid this moving

tribute. I have lost my best friend, my son. But he died doing what he

wanted to do. He lived for riding, he has raced since he was six years

old. The crowds have taken to him, he was a fantastic personality. No

one has a bad word to say about him. I want to thank the paramedics for

trying to save him at the roadside and thank the organisers for putting

on a fantastic event. The information that came out, the way

they helped me, when things went wrong. It was a great event.

Saddened by his loss. He was destined for great things. He was

quite a talent. He had done great things prior to losing his life. His

CV throughout the years has been one of fast tracking. Changing the rules

to let him right in super Moto when he was too young for the European

Championships. Every time someone said you could not do that we

changed the grain and did it. It got us to where we are. We did not come

as a big bank account, but through hard work and grit and determination

and his desire to win races. I have never seen desire Mike had. How

would you remember your son, who touched so many people here in

Northern Ireland in this short space of time. A fantastic young man and a

fantastic bike racer. The Northwest 200 abandoned then. A tragic way to

end the day. A sad way for things to end. We started off with those great

crowds, records being broken and then things went wrong. Malachi

Mitchell-Thomas was a great lad, he had a super future in the sport, he

was a rising star and things like this, just come to sudden end for

him. Thank you very much indeed and thoughts with the family of Malachi

Mitchell-Thomas from all of us here. It is goodbye.