ISLE of Man TT great John McGuinness is out of this year's event after suffering a broken leg in a nasty crash in Northern Ireland.

The 45-year-old – known as the Morecambe Missile – crashed his Honda Racing Fireblade CBR1000RR SP2 heavily on Thursday while practising for the North West 200 races that are held on the 10-mile road circuit near Portrush, Northern Ireland. He lost control of his machine on the Primrose Hill section of the circuit.

The emergency medical staff were quickly on the scene and transferred McGuinness, accompanied by his wife Becky, to Belfast Royal Infirmary.

The 23-time TT winner has suffered a broken tibia and fibula and two broken vertebrae and is said to be in a stable condition.

It is a bitter blow for McGuinness who had teamed up with former racer and TV personality Guy Martin for this year's races and has just launched his new autobiography.

Honda Britain have now withdrawn his team-mate Martin from the event until they can determine whether on not his crash was due to a mechanical failure.

“I'm sure his many thousands of fans, myself included, wish John a quick and safe recovery,” said Walney-based former Manx GP champion Les Trotter.

“He's likely to meet up in hospital with Cumbrian Chris ”Dixie” Dixon from Egremont who is in the same hospital with a broken leg too after a heavy fall on Monday. With machines now topping 200mph both riders are extremely lucky not to have sustained more serious injury.”