Davey Todd has told BBC Sport NI that he is “gutted” to have been ruled out of this year’s North West 200 international road race.
The race meeting’s chief medical officer’s assessment was that he was not satisfied that the Yorkshire rider had recovered sufficiently enough from injuries sustained in a crash at the Daytona races in Florida in early March.
The 30-year-old sustained multiple injuries in the incident, including a broken femur, tibia, foot and nose and surgery in the USA.
Two weeks ago Todd’s 8Ten Racing teammate and co-owner Peter Hickman had indicated that he was optimistic that the nine-time North West race winner would be fit to take his place on the grid for the races over the Triangle circuit.
However hopes of his participation this year have now been dashed.
“Following his injuries at Daytona in March, Davey Todd underwent a medical examination by the Chief Medical Officer at the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200 today,” a statement released by the organisers on Tuesday afternoon said.
“Unfortunately, because of his injuries, Davey was found to be unfit to take part in the North West 200 this week.
“We are very disappointed that Davey will not be on the grid this year,” race director Mervyn Whyte, said.
“He has enjoyed a lot of success at the North West and a huge following who will be equally disappointed. We would all have loved to have seen him out there racing but safety is paramount.”
Todd scooped trebles at each of the past two North Wests and expressed his disappointment at the decision to prevent him from competing.
“I’m gutted, I’m confused. I worked so hard over the last weeks to get fit and to come back and race in front of the fans here at the North West,” Todd told BBC Sport NI.
“I rode a bike on Thursday for the first time at Valencia and I surprised myself with how fast I was going and how good I felt on the bike.
“Everything was slotting into place. I feel strong, feel healthier day by day and in a good place.”
“I’ve put absolutely everything I possibly could over the last eight weeks to be back on this grid and I was amazed a few days ago, really proud of myself, that I was able to get myself back in the position that I could come here and race again and be competitive, and to be told I’ll not be given the opportunity of doing that means I’m gutted.”