NEWS

North West 200 race 1 Supertwin Sportbike Race 2: Storm Stacey celebrates winning the final race of the day the second Superbike race during the International North West 200. (All photos: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press unless otherwise stated) Storm Stacey delivered one of the standout performances in recent North West 200 history on Saturday as the English newcomer stunned the road racing world with two race wins, a lap record, and a fearless display across a dramatic day d

Dean Harrison takes North West 200 Superbike pole Thursday evening qualifying resumed at the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200 following the day’s earlier fatal incident, with riders returning to the Triangle circuit for shortened final sessions across all four classes. In difficult circumstances on the north coast, Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison emerged as the fastest man in the Superbike class, securing pole position for Saturday’s feature races after producing the quickes

A competitor at the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200 has died following an incident during Thursday morning’s Superbike qualifying session on the famous Triangle circuit. Organisers confirmed the rider suffered fatal injuries after an incident at Station Corner on the NW200 course, prompting the session to be immediately red flagged as emergency services rushed to the scene. The tragedy has cast a sombre shadow over one of Northern Ireland’s biggest sporting events, with

Briggs Equipment North West 200 Race Director, Mervyn Whyte, pictured with Rob Hodson and Storm Stacey who with both make their North West debuts at the famous north coast venue on May 4-9. (Photo credit: Stephen Davison) A rising British Superbike star is set to take on one of the most daunting challenges in road racing this week, as Storm Stacey prepares to make his debut at the Briggs Equipment North West 200. The 23-year-old arrives at the iconic Triangle circuit in Portr

Inset: North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston Mounting pressure on NHS dentistry in North Antrim has been laid bare in the Assembly, with warnings that the system is no longer sustainable and is being steadily replaced by private provision. Speaking during a debate this week, North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston said the current situation goes far beyond access issues, describing it as a structural failure that is already reshaping how dental care is delivered across communities includin

Richard Cooper celebrating winning the Tides Restaurant Supersport Race at last year’s Briggs Equipment North West 200. (Photo Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press) Seven-time Briggs Equipment North West 200 winner Richard Cooper says he and the SMS Nicholl Oils team are leaving their first test sessions on the BMW M1000RR “very, very happy” — with confidence building rapidly ahead of race week at Portrush from May 4–9. The 43-year-old Nottingham rider has been getting to grips wi

PSNI Chief Superintendent Mark Roberts, NW 200’s Mervyn White and PSNI Constable from Roads Policing. Police are urging road users travelling to and from this year’s North West 200 to prioritise safety, as tens of thousands of visitors prepare to descend on the North Coast for Northern Ireland’s largest sporting event. With race week scheduled to run from 4th to 9th May, officers have warned that increased traffic, changing road conditions, and heightened excitement around th

The Causeway Coast Ford Fair will return to Portrush this summer with a powerful new focus, as organisers confirm Cancer Focus Northern Ireland as the official charity partner for the 2026 event, bringing a major fundraising and awareness drive to one of the region’s most anticipated motoring gatherings. The event is set to take place on Sunday 7th June at West Bay, Portrush, drawing Ford enthusiasts, car clubs, families and visitors from across Northern Ireland and beyond fo

Kurt Harmer, Dealer Principal of Ballymena Honda, and Honda Racing’s John McGuinness, presented five Honda Fireblades and three Honda CBR600RR machines to Mervyn Whyte, Race Director of the Briggs Equipment North West 200 at the recent re-opening of the revamped Ballymena Honda showroom, in Co. Antrim. (Pics by: Stephen Davison) Ballymena Honda and Feridax have reinforced the safety operation at this year’s Briggs Equipment North West 200 by supplying a fleet of high-performa

Carl Cox, Josh Brookes and Alan Morris A major new partnership has been unveiled ahead of the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200, with Australian road racing star Josh Brookes confirmed to return to Portrush as part of a high-profile collaboration between Carl Cox Motorsport and the newly formed Uggly&Co Racing team. The deal will see Brookes line up in both Supersport races during race week, running from May 4–9, aboard a Suzuki GSX-R750 in the Fraser Homes and Tides Resta

The RNLI has issued its own urgent Mayday call after new figures revealed its volunteer lifeboat crews across Northern Ireland were launched 235 times in 2025, bringing 214 people to safety, including three lives saved. The newly released data, published today by the lifesaving charity, also shows that 80 of those call-outs took place in darkness, underlining the scale and intensity of demand facing volunteer crews at the region’s 10 lifeboat stations. Alongside the lifeboat

A major policing operation across the North Coast over the bank holiday period resulted in nine arrests, 21 vehicles seized for dangerous defects and 560 speeding detections, as police moved to tackle traffic disruption, anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving in one of Northern Ireland’s busiest visitor hotspots. The extensive operation, led by police in Causeway Coast and Glens District, ran throughout the holiday weekend amid heightened concerns around road safety, exc

An eight metre yacht with one person on board was safely brought to shore off the Causeway Coast on Wednesday morning, April 8, after suffering engine trouble near the Skerries, prompting a call-out for Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat. The volunteer crew was tasked by HM Coastguard at 11.29am following reports that the vessel was in difficulty off the Skerries, close to Portrush Harbour. In calm spring conditions, with clear skies, good visibility and only a light wind, the

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has received plans for a new 154-caravan extension at Skerries Holiday Park in Portrush. The council’s planning department has recently received an application for 154 new static caravan pitches, along with associated amenity space, parking, and landscaping, on lands at and to the south-west of the existing park at 126 Dunluce Road. According to an accompanying Design and Access Statement , the site includes the access and front portio

Visitors travelling to the North Coast for the Easter holiday weekend are being met with an increased police presence, as the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed officers are out on patrol across the district today. With large numbers expected to travel to Portrush and surrounding coastal areas, police have issued a clear public safety message focused on responsible behaviour, road safety and respect for shared public spaces. In a statement issued today, officers sai

One of the North Coast’s most eagerly anticipated community events is officially back, with organisers confirming that the Portrush RNLI Raft Race 2026 will take place on Saturday 23 May. The much-loved annual fundraiser, which draws rafters, families and spectators from across the area, is once again being staged in aid of RNLI Portrush, with entries now officially open. Organisers say the event is “all systems go” , with extensive planning already under way behind the scene

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has issued a strong public safety appeal ahead of what is expected to be a busy Easter weekend on the North Coast, with large visitor numbers set to descend on Portrush and Portstewart. Police say officers will be deployed across key locations including transport hubs, beaches, hospitality venues and residential areas as part of a major effort to keep residents and visitors safe during one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year. Cau

(Photo Credit: Nathan Williams) Lifeguards will return to the sands of the North Coast this Good Friday, marking a significant double milestone for the RNLI as the charity enters a new season of coastal protection. From 3 April to 12 April , six of the region’s most popular beaches will be patrolled daily between 10am and 6pm . The seasonal rollout coincides with the 25th anniversary of the RNLI’s lifeguarding service across the UK, and a special 15-year anniversary for the s

North Coast based lifeguard supervisor Michael Jess. (Photo credit: Nathan Williams) A familiar face on the North Coast is now telling the story of lives saved at sea, as the RNLI marks a major milestone with a new podcast — just as lifeguards return to local beaches ahead of the Easter break. Portrush-based lifeguard supervisor Michael Jess is the narrator of We Are Lifeguards , a five-part series launched this week to celebrate 25 years of RNLI lifeguarding across the UK a

Families planning Easter getaways are being urged to plan ahead as Translink confirms timetable changes — alongside special seaside trains and discounted travel offers across Northern Ireland. With thousands expected to take advantage of the holiday break, the public transport provider says it is gearing up to offer “comfortable, affordable and hassle-free” journeys for both local trips and longer days out. Holiday timetable changes confirmed Passengers should expect changes