Road racing star Ryan Farquhar has said he is on the mend after a tough couple of weeks since his horror crash at the North West 200 - but he has also lost a lot of weight.

Farquhar (40) suffered critical injuries in a crash during the Supertwins race involving fellow rider Englishman Dan Cooper.

The accident happened close to the spot where young English rider Malachi Mitchell-Thomas was tragically killed in a crash later in the meeting.

Following the accident, Farquhar was rushed to hospital with chest and pelvic injuries and was in intensive care for a number of days at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

His wife Karen told the Belfast Telegraph when he was transferred to a normal general ward a few days later that the skill of the surgeons and medics had saved his life.

The couple thought then that he was out of the woods, but just days after that Ryan was rushed back into intensive care after a relapse brought on by a suspected infection.

It is now thought the popular rider is firmly out of danger - as evidenced by a picture posted on Facebook showing him sitting up in bed smiling while wearing a Northern Ireland football team shirt as they headed off for the Euros yesterday.

Doctors have described his condition as stable, and it looks like the racer is finally on the road to full recovery.

He said on his Twitter feed yesterday: "Starting to get back in line now. Thanks again everyone for all the support!! Feel like I've lost three stone."

Dan Cooper was less seriously injured and is believed to be at home in England recuperating.

Farquhar's crash and the death of Mitchell-Thomas reignited the debate over the safety of road racing.

Fans and organisers defended the sport, saying while it is made as safe as possible, those taking part are fully aware of the risks and choose to take part.

The current Isle of Man TT meeting has already seen one death so far.

Dean Martin (58), who came from the island, was killed while another rider and a marshal were seriously injured.

Colin O'Carroll