Irish roads legend Ryan Farquhar says he was ‘very sad’ to learn of the death of 20 year old Malachi Mitchell-Thomas who lost his life in a crash at almost exactly the same spot as the Dungannon man’s accident in Saturday’s second Supertwins race at the Vauxhall International North West 200.

The young Chorley rider had been involved in several race battles with Farquhar at the Mid-Antrim 150 and Tandragee 100 earlier in the season.

“Having raced against Malachi it was obvious to me that he was a huge talent,” the 40 year-old reflected. What has happened to the young fella is very sad. Malachi didn’t do anything more wrong than I did but I am still here to tell the tale and he is not.”

Both Ryan and his wife Karen offered their sincerest sympathies to Malachi’s family and friends and to fellow Dungannon couple Rachel and John Burrows who run the Burrows Racing squad that the 20 year old raced for.