Morecambe’s John McGuinness was on hand yesterday to help Clerk of Course for the North West 200, Mervyn Whyte, who has recently recovered from a gardening accident which saw him, suffered a serious hand injury; launch the race sponsors details for the 2009 North West 200. Despite it being McGuinness birthday he was happy to make the trip across the Irish Sea to the Portrush coastline to have a look at the improvements and changes to the triangle for the 80th running of this prestigious event.
McGuinness who was celebrating his 37th birthday is one of the main riders who will be lining up on race day, 16th May in not only the DeWalt Superbike race and the Black Horse NW200 race, but he will also be making an appearance on board his much favoured 250cc machinery. McGuinness who claims to be 37th (many were doubting this figure, most saying it was more like his 40th, not that riders would lie about their ages!!), was delighted to be presented with a chocolate cake and bottle of champagne (that’s a good way of slowing down the competition!!!) whilst out on a boat on the River Bann, along with newcomer for the 09 North West, Market Drayton’s Ben Wylie, better known in the British Superbike paddock.
Wylie will be making his North West debut on the Superstock and Supersport machinery, riding in the CP Hire Superstock race and the Clinton Enterprise Ltd 600cc race, both sponsors details being launched alongside the DeWalt Superbike Race, the Black Horse NW200 race and the McKendry Fabrications Ltd 125cc race at Ramada Hotel in Portrush during a press conference hosted by one of the overall sponsors, Adele and Alastair Kennedy from the Kennedy Group.
Whyte was delighted to announce the continuation of sponsorship from CP Hire, DeWalt, Black Horse and McKendry Fabrications and he was delighted to welcome onboard a new sponsor for 2009 in the form of Clinton Enterprise who are also responsible for supplying the 09 North West clothing which is available to purchase via the new updated North West 200 website, designed and maintained by Redback Creations who revamped the website www.northwest200.org thanks to money from the Government department Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. This website is designed to complement the coverage provided by BBC Northern Ireland who will also be running online and providing online footage of practice and racing at www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/nw200/
A number of other associate sponsors were announced at Portrush, including the continued support of Tyrone Brick, Right Price, GMC, Irish Racer, Bob Mullan Motors and BT, along with newcomers local brand Cookstown who are backing the North West with their VIP campaign (Very Important Pork) and Connect (a local communications company).
With only a month to go until race day, it is all actions are go for preparations for what should be a cracking 80th anniversary for the North West 200, with a large entry as always and with a truly international flavour with riders coming from all parts of the British Isles, Europe, America, Asia and as far away as Australia and New Zealand.
