HM Plant Honda rider Steve crashed heavily during practice for the Superbike race at the NW200 meeting in Northern Ireland on Thursday.
 
He went into the session on provisional pole but lost the front of his HM Plant Honda Fireblade at Quarry Hill and slid heavily into the safety fencing.
 
After initial treatment and assessment by the medics on the course Steve was taken to Coleraine hospital where it was confirmed he had broken both bones in his lower left arm and would need an operation to plate the injury.

He was transferred to the Londonderry Orthopaedic Unit where he underwent the procedure on Friday afternoon.

Steve is fortunate to have come away from his high speed crash with relatively minor injuries and this is testament to the FIM approved safety bales which absorbed the majority of the impact, the quality of Steve’s leathers and helmet and also his quick thinking, as when he knew he was sliding towards the kerb he picked his legs up to minimise any further injury.

Steve remembers the whole accident and, although in pain, was talking to paramedics and HM Plant Honda’s team manager, Harvey Beltran, before being taken to hospital by ambulance.

Steve was very disappointed to miss the North West 200 races in which he was due to ride in five different classes, two Superbike and the Superstock races for HM Plant Honda and the two Supersport events for Padgett’s Honda and relayed his thanks to everyone for all their good wishes from his hospital bed on Friday.

“I’m gutted to not be able to race tomorrow but I’m very thankful the operation seems to have gone well. I can’t feel my fingers at the moment but we’re hopeful that just a temporary thing and that the feeling will start to come back once the swelling starts to go down. I’ve been overwhelmed by all the well-wishes via text, phone calls and email and can’t thank everyone enough for their kind words and support, or thank all the medical staff enough, both at the hospital and the trackside, who have played a part in helping me feel more comfortable since Thursday evening.

“From here I just want to focus on making sure my arm has the chance to completely recover but I’m also determined to be back on my Honda Fireblade as soon as possible to be able to try and protect my current lead in the British Superstock Championship. Being able to compete at the TT is highly unlikely and I’m also gutted about that too, but at the moment I’ll take each day as it comes and will have to settle, annoyingly, for watching tomorrow’s North West 200 races from the live BBC feed on my laptop!”

Steve will miss the weekend’s racing at his local track of Cadwell Park but there is now a gap in the British Superbike calendar to allow for the TT races.  The next round of the series will be on June 21st at Silverstone where the Superstock riders will have two races as support to the British round of MotoGP.

Tuesday 11th May Practice

Practice got underway for the 2010 North West 200 races in Northern Ireland on Tuesday with Steve ending the Superbike session as the fastest rider with an advantage of 2.401seconds over fellow HM Plant rider John McGuinness.

Steve, who is the current lap record holder in the class put in seven laps of the 8.97-mile course and was clocked through the speed trap at 203mph on his way to claiming the fastest lap of the evening.

Asked what he thought about the weather conditions the Steve said: “It is dry and fine and although the wind is a little bit difficult it is the same for all of us. I used the first couple of laps to get used to the circuit again and check my braking points.

“The new chicane at Mathers is tight but not a problem and could provide some over-taking possibilities and again, it’s the same for everyone.”

The Superstock session was cancelled because of lack of time after a lengthy hold up in the Supersport class because of an oil spillage at Station Corner.

The stoppage means that the Superstock riders have to qualify on Thursday.

With wet weather being forecast for the area on Thursday then last night’s Superbike times could be crucial for Saturday’s races.”

Roads close on Thursday at 09.30 and re-open at 15.00 to allow daytime practice for all classes ahead of racing on Saturday when the roads close at 10.00 to allow for a full day of racing.

Steve on provisional pole for the Superbikes . . .