International North West 200 organisers, Coleraine & District Motor Club Ltd have confirmed that next year’s Race Day will take place on Saturday 19th May 2012following ratification by governing body, the Motor Cycling Union of Ireland (MCUI) during November.

Technical director Mervyn Whyte MBE recently completed a series of discussions with BSB and DORNA organisers and World Endurance teams to ensure the NW200 didn’t clash with key international racing schedules following last year’s unavoidable absence of HM Plant Honda stars John McGuinness and Keith Amor who were set to compete in World Endurance in Albacete, Spain.

Following Coleraine & District Motor Club’s presentation and proposal to Coleraine Borough Council, consultation will get underway next week in terms of proposed daytime practice on Tuesday 15th May and additional evening racing on Thursday May 17th. Detailed letters will be delivered to all residents located in and around the course and local people will be invited to respond to NW200 organisers by Tuesday 15th November.

Outlining proposed plans Mervyn Whyte said,

“We aim to close the 8.9 mile circuit roads on Tuesday and Thursday from 9.30am until 2.30pm providing substantial time for practice including valuable newcomer sessions.

To expand our race programme and broaden the appeal to fans, we hope to introduce two exciting races on the Thursday evening – a Superstock event followed by a Supertwins Race – with roads set to close 5.30pm to 9pm. We believe the new revitalised programme will attract additional spectators and add a little more live action to our Race Week schedule. The addition of the Supertwins race is a first for the North West 200 and we will be following the same regulations as the Isle of Man TT who are also set to introduce a Supertwins class for the first time in 2012.”

Whyte also confirmed that Saturday’s 2012 Race Day programme will follow last year’s schedule and feature five races - two superbike and two Supersport races as well as the Superstock class. A new aggregate points system will also apply to both the Thursday and Saturday Superstock races.

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