Burns airs NW safety concerns

Experienced Lisburn rider Darren Burns, who was caught up in the horrific accident that claimed the life of Ulster motorcycling legend Robert Dunlop at the notorious Mather’s Cross section of the course in 2008, highlighted his concerns in an interview with the News Letter last week.

The 39-year-old ex-250cc Irish champion sustained a shattered ankle, a fractured pelvis and a broken wrist after colliding with Ballymoney hero Dunlop during the fateful practice smash 19 months ago.

Last May, the North West claimed another life, with young prospect Mark Young from Cookstown killed following a crash at Mather’s Cross on the opening lap of the 250cc race, while Antrim’s John Anderton was lucky to survive a terrifying accident at the fast Station Corner section of the course in practice.

Anderton was pronounced clinically dead at the scene, but miraculously battled back to full health after spending five-and-a-half-weeks in a coma.

The nine-mile ‘Triangle’ course is often characterised by Ulster competitors and overseas riders alike as a ‘large short circuit,’ but Burns feels the north coast race track is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“In my opinion, the North West 200 is the most dangerous road race there is,” he said. “That might surprise some people, but when you’ve got so many riders inches away from each other slip-streaming along the straights at up to 200mph, there is no room for error.

“All it takes is for one rider to make a mistake or a machine to lose power and everyone is going to go down.

“People like to describe the North West as just a big short circuit, but I can tell you they wouldn’t be thinking that if they crashed somewhere like Mather’s Cross,” he added.

“It’s a road race and there is only so much you can do to make it safe. The trees, hedges, lamp-posts, brick walls and houses that were there years and years ago are still there to this day.

“John Anderton was very lucky to escape with his life where he crashed last year and I was really upset by Mark Young’s death.

“They’ve done some work at Mather’s Cross, but I agree with Ryan Farquhar – it’s only going to make the corner faster and therefore there’s a bigger risk of more serious injuries if you get it wrong.”