NW200: No SV650s at 2009 races

The Coleraine club, organisers of the North West 200 are looking at the possibility of adding a new class to the race programme as a replacement for the 400s – but it won’t be until 2010.

As announced at the first NW200 press launch at the Belfast Waterfront Hall two weeks ago, the 400 cc race has been dropped from the 2009 race day schedule.

In 2008, the 400 class also included a small number of Suzuki SV650 twin machines.

With the introduction of the 650 twin machines into the national scene for 2009, the Coleraine Club looked at the viability of running a separate 650 twin race at this years meeting but after much consideration have decided not to run a 650 twin race at this year’s International event.

However this will be reviewed for 2010 and NW200 Clerk of Course Mervyn Whyte said, 2This news (that the 650s will not be on this year’s programme) will no doubt leave a number of competitors disappointed.

“We have spent considerable time debating the pro’s and con’s but have decided against this class for 2009.”

Despite this news the club will continue to support and promote the small classes with the 125 and 250cc machines being run as two separate races, along with the two 600cc races, Superstock and the two Superbike races.