Johnston fights through pain at North West 200

Lee Johnston has confessed he was crying with pain after today’s opening North West 200 qualifying sessions.

Still recovering from an injured groin suffered in a heavy fall during the Scarborough Spring Cup weekend a month ago, the diminutive Ulsterman fought through the pain barrier to provisionally qualify in respectable positions for all three classes.

Johnston lapped the 8.970 mile Triangle circuit with an average speed of 114.081mph on his East Coast Racing Triumph to place fourth fastest in the Supersport class. He also impressed on his BMW stocker setting the fifth fastest time and was tenth quickest in the superbike class.

“I was in so much pain I was crying,” he said after the final session. “But not to worry, once racing starts I’ll soon forget about the pain.”