Todd ruled out of North West 200

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."

The two-time British Superstock 1000cc champion will now hope that he will be passed fit to race at the Isle of Man TT, practice for which begins on 25 May.

"It's a real shame because I don't know what impact that will have on being able to do the TT now. We can only wait and see. I tried my best but for some reason it's not to be.

"I arrived here to the North West this morning and I arrived to be told that they weren't actually going to do a medical test for me, the answer was just 'no, I'm not riding'.

"I don't really understand the basis of it right now, I've had a conversation with the organisers and they can't overrule the Chief Medical Officer's decision."

Todd feels that he was not given sufficient opportunity to prove his fitness.

"I think it's a bit of a crazy decision to be honest. I've offered to do whatever he wants me to do, any exercise, stand up one one leg and jump up and down, do whatever you want, but most importantly I can ride a bike and ride one fast and feel good, as I did the other day.

"I have all the data to prove that but he wasn't interested, the answer was no and that was it.

"Even all the input from the facility, Formula Medicine, like one of the best facilities in the world, where I've been at for the last six weeks in Italy, rehabbing all the injuries, doctors and orthopaedics and everyone, were amazed at my progress.

"We were really happy with the position that I'm in. They forwarded on their opinions and they don't want to listen to that either. The answer's no and that's it.

"I just want a reason of why and there hasn't been a why, it's because of this, it's because of that, it's just not, and it's devastating."