ISLE OF MAN’S MARCUS SIMPSON TO MAKE DEBUT AT 2024 BRIGGS EQUIPMENT NORTH WEST 200

Manxman Marcus Simpson will be amongst the line-up of newcomers during May’s 6-11 race week at the 2024 Briggs Equipment North West.

The 25 year old Douglas man is no stranger to Irish road racing having contested a full season of the National events during 2022.

“I was lucky in getting to do them in the last full season.” he said during a recent recce of the 8.9 mile Triangle NW200 course with Glenn Irwin as his guide.

But Simpson’s plans to advance his road racing career stalled on a wet road at last year’s Cookstown 100.

“I highsided at Cookstown and ruptured my spleen.” he explained.

Following his recovery, Simpson made a winning comeback as a newcomer at Scarborough before posting impressive performances at the 2023 Manx Grand Prix where he finished fifth in the Junior race and second in the Senior, lapping the Mountain course at over 120mph.

The North West 200 is next on Simpson’s list of road racing challenges, having visited the event last year as a spectator.

“I watched at different places around the course and thought ‘I want a bit of this’.” he explained.

Although the young Manxman sees his North West debut as “the next step” in his racing career, he has deliberately avoided setting any goals for himself at this year’s event.

“I have no expectation other than to stay safe and finish wherever we slot in with a safe ride.” Simpson says.

“I just want to get settled into the new bikes, a LMR powered by Jon Cuff Electrical Honda Fireblade and a JPS Racing powered by LD Glazing Triumph, which I have done a lot of laps on in Spain but haven’t ridden on the roads yet.”