Not looking good for Irish Road Racing

[Drumroll]

Irish Road Racing is facing a crisis on several fronts.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/northern-ireland/51176...

[Prof Prolapse]

I've only been to the Ulster GP once but it was great day out. The statement in the article about "lack of commercialisation", really is on point but sadly that would appear to a double edged sword.

Given the huge risks involved to both individuals and property, it's fairly easy to see how insurance costs and safety considerations could feature repeatedly in that article as a source of cost, but what can you do? It's not like the riders' are molly coddled at these events, most health and safety consists of a bale of hay at a telegraph pole, a bit of insulation around barb wire, and an old biker in a hi-vis vest with a radio. It's not like it's "gone mad".

I don't know if it's just me, but having just got back from the states and seen the, frankly insane, amount of funding that goes into even the most trivial sporting events, I can't help but feel we're just living in a poor country, and this sort of thing is the way of things.

[zeb]

I t would be a damn shame if it did. Just look at the amount of effort in getting olivers mount back on shows the struggles for road racing. I've always thought that reinstating the BSB round at mondello would be a good thing for the sport. They manage to do it for Assen??

[Ho Lee Kau]

Prof Prolapse said:

...

I don't know if it's just me, but having just got back from the states and seen the, frankly insane, amount of funding that goes into even the most trivial sporting events, I can't help but feel we're just living in a poor country, and this sort of thing is the way of things.

Pity about Irish road racing, I enjoy youtube-watching the brave men riding the missiles on public roads.

I do not think UK is poor, it is just that this type of sport is questionable to many ("letting people risk their own lives? no, we can't have that!" kind of (frankly) bullst).
Also it is a niche sport, so does not draw many spectators and finally it is very far out from "civilization" so not many paying people would come even if you threw loads of money at the event.
Then there is also the anti-racing, anti-motorbike, save-the-whale-save-the-snail-save-the-climate-crazed crowd and the forbid-everything crowd...

I bet IRR is kept alive on the great enthusiasm of many, but, as you said, commercially it is not attractive.