Road racing hero John McGuinness has vowed to race at the upcoming Vauxhall North West 200 despite breaking his right wrist, damaging ribs and suffering two black eyes in a dirt-bike crash.

The 20-time TT winner has already undergone an operation on the wrist and says it could have been a lot worse as he crashed heavily in the middle of nowhere.

“I have already had a couple of operations on the wrist by one of the top surgeons in the country and he is really happy with the way it all worked out,” said McGuinness.

“I have a light cast on the wrist now. I have to let it rest for a few weeks and then I will have a month to get ready for the North West in May.

“Things could have been a lot worse because it was a heavy crash in the middle of nowhere. I punched a big hole in my helmet and I’ve two black eyes to go with my sore wrist and ribs but time is a great healer and I am well on the road to recovery now.”