NW200: Plater relieved as racing gets underway

The 41-year-old (right) suffered a broken left arm following a spill at Quarry Hill in the Superbike practice session.

Plater, the reigning British Supersport champion, is devastated that he will miss the showpiece road race today, but last night Whyte told News Letter Sport the Woodhall Spa rider is relieved to have escaped serious injury following the incident.

"I went to see Steve at the Causeway Hospital tonight and he is in his usual high spirits," Whyte said.

"He's obviously disappointed that he will miss the North West but at the same time he is thankful because he knows the consequences could have been a lot worse.

"The data logging equipment on his Superbike shows that he was travelling at 116mph when the crash happened," Whyte revealed.

"Steve says he just lost the front end coming into Quarry Hill and that was it.

"His bike slammed into safety bales and he went in behind it. If it hadn't been for those bales Steve could have suffered much more serious injuries.

"He'll be leaving Coleraine tomorrow to go up to Altnagelvin where he's due to get his arm plated."

Ballymoney's Michael Dunlop will start the Supersport races from pole position after claiming the fastest lap on his Street Sweep Yamaha R6, with brother William holding on to the top spot in the 125cc class.

McAdoo Kawasaki Racing's Conor Cummins seized the initiative in the Superstock category.