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Heatherlea Avenue, PORTSTEWART, BT55 7HE

This is York corner, a very sharp hairpin bend coming from left to right. It is the slowest section on the famous North West 200 motorcycle course. Preparations are already under way for this year's race, notice the temporary "keep left" signs and flags on the lamp posts (although orange in colour they have no political significance and are the advertising sign of the main sponsor).

The recently refurbished York hotel enjoying the late evening sun.

And it's hard left at York Corner; they'll be back here in a matter of minutes having flashed through 8.9 statute miles!

This is the first major corner on this 8.9 mile circuit which is the Northwest 200. It is the Superbike category and there's drama all the way. These guys will average the course at around 120 mph plus and some will tear down the Portrush straight at 208 mph.

Martin Jessop astride Number 40 leads the pack into York Corner on the first lap of the Supertwin race of the Northwest 200 of 2016. It was during lap three of this race that a young rider paid the ultimate price and the meeting was subsequently ended. Northern Ireland is the forerunner in the world of motorcycle road racing and with the progress of engineering as it is, it is little wonder that questions are being asked as to what speeds motor cycle road racers will be permitted to have access to in the future. During this meeting, Michael Dunlop recorded a speed of just over 210 MPH.

EIIR wall box (BT55 24), drop box and telephone box, on the Portmore Road, close to the Station Road.

Positioned at corners and other strategic points you will find a flag marshal. If there is a major incident and it is necessary to "stop the field" he will raise a red flag. Each marshal is within view of his comrade and he too will raise a flag in turn. There has been a fatal accident some 4 miles down the road and the marshal in the picture is raising his flag.

A very sharp left turn and the slowest corner on the circuit, York has caused many problems. Riders are torn between going slow enough to negotiate the bend and fast enough to out-pace their rivals. Image

Screaming down the coast road at 140 miles per hour plus, this left hander can come as a shock to the average guy. It's fortunate that these guys aren't average and in less than six minutes some of these riders will be cruising on these public roads at speeds in excess to 200 mph!! That's the Northwest 200 you see and that explains why some 130,000 spectators turn up here on the North Antrim coast year after year to witness this spectacle.

Coming down from Primrose towards York Corner. Image