Road racing legend John McGuinness says it’s possible he could make a return to the North West 200 but it would only be in the Supersport class as he believes a Superbike is out of his reach after his big crash there this year.

The six-times winner suffered serious leg injuries as well as breaking his back and ribs after a high speed crash at Primrose corner during practice when his Fireblade’s throttle stuck open.

Now aged 46, McGuinness says he doesn’t want to end his career in that fashion and is considering making a comeback on smaller machinery if he is not strong enough to ride a Superbike.

“It is possible that I will race at the North West again, in the smaller classes, on a 600 or a Supertwin maybe. The big bikes might just be out of my reach after the injury but we will see what happens,” said McGuinness.

“It has been tough but bike racers are made of different gravy. I’ve done the North West for 24 years and only crashed once before when I slipped off at Juniper chicane in 2004. There’s no way I want to end my career upside down on a golf course. If I do retire I want to retire under my rules.
 
“The fans I’ve met all want me to come back. I’ve been racing for a long time and I have missed it. I still think I have a little bit left but I don’t have anything to prove.”