NW200 (and others) cancelled!

[DarthtaterM16]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-645...

What a shame!

[Se7enheaven]

Oh no. I’d just booked up few weeks ago too. Bugger.
The beginning of the end of road racing . Such a shame

Edited by Se7enheaven on Friday 10th February 06:52

[Chicken Chaser]

Does anyone know the reasons behind the sudden increases? It's almost like a stealth way to end road racing. Hope the TT doesn't have a similar fate.

[trickywoo]

I’d like to think it’s brinkmanship negotiation but doubt it.

One would think an insurance company could title sponsor the nw200 at least.

[Se7enheaven]

Certainly not good for the TT either way. It’s a great testing time for the teams prior to the TT and with this gone will impact their run up to the IOM.

[NSR500]

Sad day for real road racing - I doubt if the TT will suffer the same fate, fingers crossed though. Insurance tripled, someone is scared to take the risk hence the high figure.

[Gary C]

Chicken Chaser said:

Does anyone know the reasons behind the sudden increases? It's almost like a stealth way to end road racing. Hope the TT doesn't have a similar fate.

The IOM gov would probably pass a law making it impossible to sue if a bike hits you or something to reduce the costs. They make too much income to let it go.

[_Rodders_]

Personally I feel road racing has had it's day. The last TT was sickening with the number of deaths and the only comeback you ever hear is they chose to do it.

Some people would chose to wrestle lions if you let them.

Enjoy it while you can because if the TT is still a thing by 2030 I'd be surprised.

[FlopperV60]

I'm lost for words, I just hope that this really doesn't spell the end of a sport which I have loved for over 40 years

As I type this I have Pistonheads on one screen and my other screen is showing my wallpaper, a beautiful picture of Portstewart taken during last years NW200.

I really hope this can be resolved and the events resurrected for 2024, I had promised to take my sons to NI next year for their first road racing experience and that is something I have looked forward to doing once they were of a certain age.

Absolutely gutted

[graeme4130]

Gary C said:

Chicken Chaser said:

Does anyone know the reasons behind the sudden increases? It's almost like a stealth way to end road racing. Hope the TT doesn't have a similar fate.

The IOM gov would probably pass a law making it impossible to sue if a bike hits you or something to reduce the costs. They make too much income to let it go.

That's not actually true. The IOM Government published the review held at the end of Covid as to whether the TT would continue. Interestingly, as much as they generate several Million in tourism revenue, it actually costs the Island about the same in running costs
From what I remember, it's put to a vote each year amongst the various stakeholders in the Island's economy, and although it's voted for in favour each time, it's pretty marginal

The writing's been on the wall for the TT for a while now, so it should be enjoyed whilst it's still there as won't be forever

Edited by graeme4130 on Friday 10th February 09:21

[Janluke]

£400k seems a drop in the ocean compared to the amount of money these events bring in.

I'm guessing the organising clubs don't see this money and don't directly benefit enough financially

Some help from the tourist board and its members maybe?

[ArnageWRC]

Janluke said:

£400k seems a drop in the ocean compared to the amount of money these events bring in.

I'm guessing the organising clubs don't see this money and don't directly benefit enough financially

Some help from the tourist board and its members maybe?

It's not golf......Which is what one of the major race organisers complained about last year....

[graeme4130]

The letter from Motorcycling Ireland basically said it couldn't get insurance full stop, rather than just an increase in price

[roboxm3]

_Rodders_ said:

Personally I feel road racing has had it's day. The last TT was sickening with the number of deaths and the only comeback you ever hear is they chose to do it.

Some people would chose to wrestle lions if you let them.

Enjoy it while you can because if the TT is still a thing by 2030 I'd be surprised.

Personally I don't like the idea of being protected from ourselves by a third party person or group who decide based on their own criteria.

We should protect each other from each other i.e. the law, but outside of that, where proper provisions are put in place, adults of sound mind should be able to do as they choose, providing that it doesn't negatively impact anyone else (see aforementioned law).

How is it any different from skydiving, base-jumping, free-diving, downhill skiing etc. etc.

[Se7enheaven]

_Rodders_ said:

Personally I feel road racing has had it's day. The last TT was sickening with the number of deaths and the only comeback you ever hear is they chose to do it.

Some people would chose to wrestle lions if you let them.

Enjoy it while you can because if the TT is still a thing by 2030 I'd be surprised.

Here we go again FFS

[DarthtaterM16]

graeme4130 said:

The letter from Motorcycling Ireland basically said it couldn't get insurance full stop, rather than just an increase in price

Ouch...

[abw280]

DarthtaterM16 said:

Ouch...

BREXIT!!!***!!! Ferry and accommodation booked and bloody paid for, looks like I'll be doing a wee solo tour of Northern Ireland.

[FlopperV60]

roboxm3 said:

Personally I don't like the idea of being protected from ourselves by a third party person or group who decide based on their own criteria.

We should protect each other from each other i.e. the law, but outside of that, where proper provisions are put in place, adults of sound mind should be able to do as they choose, providing that it doesn't negatively impact anyone else (see aforementioned law).

How is it any different from skydiving, base-jumping, free-diving, downhill skiing etc. etc.

Well said, I couldn't agree with you more.

[_Rodders_]

roboxm3 said:

_Rodders_ said:

Personally I feel road racing has had it's day. The last TT was sickening with the number of deaths and the only comeback you ever hear is they chose to do it.

Some people would chose to wrestle lions if you let them.

Enjoy it while you can because if the TT is still a thing by 2030 I'd be surprised.

Personally I don't like the idea of being protected from ourselves by a third party person or group who decide based on their own criteria.

We should protect each other from each other i.e. the law, but outside of that, where proper provisions are put in place, adults of sound mind should be able to do as they choose, providing that it doesn't negatively impact anyone else (see aforementioned law).

How is it any different from skydiving, base-jumping, free-diving, downhill skiing etc. etc.

All relatively safe sports in comparison and I say that as someone who had their military career ended Downhill ski racing and took a good 4 or 5 years to get to a point where I could walk without an obvious limp, just a subtle one now.

I'd compare it more to Cave Diving and in Cave Diving when someone dies, which they do regularly, the authorities often ban entry to the cave or even block it completely.

Your argument rings quite hollow to me and I love the thrill of speed and the danger of road racing.

[_Rodders_]

Anyway. That's all I'll say because the zealotry is akin to fox hunters and their desperate attempt to keep on killing.

There's no rational debate.