Manx racer Illiam Quayle has been ruled out of the rest of the North West 200 after failing to qualify.

Son for former TT racer Milky Quayle, Illy was set to make his debut at the event for Ian Lougher’s Team ILR.

But issues during his speed-controlled laps meant he was unable to complete the mandatory five full laps, a requirement he was seemingly unaware of.

In a statement on Thursday, Illy commented: ‘I was following the very experienced John Burrows in the third wave of newcomers.

‘On lap one someone in the wave before me crashed and the session was red-flagged. My group got held on the course so never completed a full lap.

‘After a few minutes were were told to go again. I got into a great rhythm and had three good laps, but on lap four I had an intermittent misfire so safely pulled over to the side to try and figure out what was going on.

‘It started up again with no problem so re-joined, only for it to happen again. Again I pulled to the side where the bike just stopped so I couldn't continue and got brought back in the recovery truck.

'About an hour later lan [Lougher] got a call from the organisers to say I couldn't continue with the meeting as I hadn't qualified.

‘Apparently, unbeknown to me, I needed to do five full laps in that single six-lap session - not once was I told that.

‘I did the compulsory newcomers’ weekend in February and it was never mentioned. I did the newcomers’ briefing on Tuesday and nothing was said then.

‘Myself and Team ILR are devastated by this. All that’s been asked is that I can go out again at the end of any session with an instructor to complete the last quarter of my lap and have been met with a flat no, so it seems they have zero contingency for this eventuality which to me seems very unfair.’