Mick led the 1996 North West 200 from start to finish to win by over 5 seconds and showed why he was such a talented rider on the roads and circuits with a winning time of 20 Min 37.96 Sec and a speed of 104.688 Mph, Dennis McCullough was second and Gavin Lee third.

Mick Lofthouse was a 28 year old from Oswaldtwistle near Accrington when he sadly died in a crash at Milntown cottage while practising before the start of the 1996 TT races. Lofthouse had told press in May that he had been praying that fortune would finally smile on him at that year's TT. "I am due a bit of luck and have channelled all my efforts into winning my first TT, I want it so bad."

Mick was haunted by a 125 TT near-miss defeat in 1995 when he was pipped to the post by 0.6 seconds by outsider Mark Baldwin in one of the closest ever finishes in TT history. Blackburn born Lofthouse told press: "Winning the TT has been a lifelong ambition for me. Last year felt like the end of the world because I thought I'd done enough to win after crashing (Mick slid off on the last lap but remounted) I rode the wheels off the bike and thought it was all over. Imagine how I felt when Mark crossed the line and I discovered he'd beaten me….I was gutted."

Mick won first time out on the mountain circuit with a Lightweight class newcomers win in 1990 he finished third on his 125 TT debut in 1992 and breaking down while leading in both 1993 and 1994, Lofthouse was determined to end his Manx jinx that year.

Mick was a sensational rider both on the roads and circuits finishing in the 125cc British Championships 2^nd in 1992 3^rd in the Supercup 1993 3^rd in 1995 but the highlight was lifting the ACU British Championship in 1993.

It’s a sad shame that Mick Lofthouse never achieved his lifelong dream to win on the island but his memory still lives on, RIP Mick.