A statement issued by the organisers said: “Dan Cooper, one of the two riders involved in the crash during the Supertwins race at the Vauxhall International North West 200 tonight, has been take to Causeway hospital, Coleraine by ambulance. Cooper (28), from Stroud, has sustained shoulder injuries.

“Ryan Farquhar (40) from Dungannon is being taken by PSNI helicopter to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast with chest and pelvic injuries. Both riders are in a stable condition and neither has life-threatening injuries.”

The pair crashed on the uphill run past Dhu Varren railway bridge in Portrush on the third lap of the Supertwins race, which was subsequently red flagged. Racing was also called off for the evening.

Farquhar is a popular figure in the road racing scene with over 200 victories to his name, including three at the Isle of Man TT. He recently visited Australia as part of the UK team that won the International Challenge at AMCN’s International Island Challenge.

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