Pour one out for the Irish roadracing scene, lads! We had some terribly sad news from across the pond last week, as the Motorcycle Union of Ireland announced the cancellation of the 2023 roadracing season, including track-based and public road-based events. The reason for the cancellation? Insurance costs.

It’s a heavy blow to the street circuit scene, as COVID-19 shutdowns had already made things very difficult, with shaky financials plaguing these events in recent years. These races are some of the best-known public road events in the world, with the Ulster GP, the Cookstown 100, North West 200 and other races in this series offering an alternative to the Isle of Man TT. The same riders did the events in Northern Ireland, and the races were every bit as wild (see below), but these events lacked the IOMTT hype and were therefore more affordable to visit.

Some of the most famous street racers in history built their reputations in this series over decades gone by—the Dunlops, Guy Martin, John McGuinness and many, many others. And now, it’s gone for 2023 and unless the money troubles are sorted out, it’s not coming back. This latest disaster was caused when Motorcycling Ireland’s previous insurer decided to no longer offer coverage to the event after the 2022 races. No affordable replacement could be found. Add that to the already-existing financial shortfalls, and street racing fans will have to start dumping more money into supporting these races if they want them to continue. Although the races bring in millions to Ireland’s economy, divided public opinion means government is often reluctant to back these events. If salvation is coming, it will have to come from riders themselves.&

And, it seems the true keeners haven’t given up. judging by this statement on the North West 200 race’s Facebook page:

STATEMENT FROM THE ORGANISERS OF THE fonaCAB AND NICHOLL OILS NORTH WEST 200

The crisis the fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 and the rest of motorcycle sport in Ireland currently faces is due to a huge increase in the cost of insurance cover for 2023.

The organisers of the North West 200, the Coleraine and District Motor Club, have been working tirelessly to mitigate the pressure created by these extra costs. The club was confident it could manage the initial premium increase but with other events unable to do so, the transfer of extra charges to the North West 200 created an unsustainable financial burden.

Yesterday the sport’s governing body, the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (UC), announced the cancellation of all motorcycle sporting events in Northern Ireland this year. But the organisers of the NW200 have not given up the fight. We cannot afford to lose an event that has been running for over 90 years and plays such a vital role in the economy of the north coast area.

We have been overwhelmed by the messages and offers of support we have received today and whilst we understand the decision taken by the MCUI (UC), the Coleraine and District Motor club will continue in its efforts to stage the North West 200 on May 7-13.

Plans were already in place to welcome new competitors to the event during an induction day next Tuesday, February 14. Both that event and the Meet the Stars race launch, scheduled for February 15, will go ahead as planned and we will continue to keep everyone informed of our progress.

So. Stay tuned. Maybe one or two of these events will survive, at least.

#Bike #Sportbike #Moto