North West 200 rider escapes injury after being flung ‘around 25ft in air’ in crash

Paul Cassidy, from Castletown in the Isle of Man, took the tumble during Thursday's practice session at the Triangle circuit and landed on the bonnet of a parked car in a resident’s driveway.

He says the incident happened on a right-hand bend just after the start/finish area, understood to be Millbank Avenue.

Footage shared on social media shows Cassidy's bike mounting the footpath before colliding with a protective barrier, throwing him into the air where he did a number of somersaults before landing on the car.

Posting on his social media, the rider said: “I’m all OK just bloody sore. I was behind a rider and had just clicked 4th I believe his bike cut out or something on the 1st right after the start… The marshals said the same thing too.

“He pulled to the left then looking over his shoulder not knowing I was going around him and we collided together.

“Unfortunately, nothing I could do at that sort of speed. Big thank you to everyone for all support… all the medical staff did a cracking job.

“Went up around 25ft and landed in the garden on someone’s car.”

Supporters wished the rider well after the crash, with one saying: “Very glad you’re up and about after that! Made of hard stuff… be back on the pipe before you know it!”

Another added: “Paul Cassidy isn’t human. Glad to see you're ok after this effort.”

One fan said he was a “lucky, lucky man” and that “someone was watching over you”.