Scarborough roads circuit is back in business for 2019
Bike racing confirmed to return at famous Scarborough street circuit for 2019
Road racing will return to Oliver’s Mount in 2019 thanks to the iconic Gold Cup venue getting the funding and support needed to overcome the safety issues which prevented racing in 2018.
The team behind the comeback, Two Four Three Road Racing Association, have the full backing of Scarborough Borough Council and have confirmed to MCN that two race weekends are planned: the Barry Sheene Classic on July 2728 and the return of the legendary Gold Cup on September 27-29. Both meetings have been given the go-ahead by the ACU, once again giving the green light to racing on the challenging and undulating 2.43-mile public road race track; something they say could never have been possible without the additional support of the 1946 Marshal Association and Shaun Dalton.
Eddie Roberts, the event’s joint licencee with Mick Grant, has been instrumental in getting Oliver’s Mount back on the racing map, and told MCN: “Behind the scenes there’s been months and months of planning, but finally we can confirm road racing is set to return to Oliver’s Mount. We are working side-by-side with the ACU and work is already underway to improve the safety of the track for both riders and spectators. We know it’s a huge task to undertake, but we are 100% confident that racing will take place at Oliver’s Mount this year.” Mick Grant, seven times Isle of Man TT winner and multiple winner at Oliver’s Mount, who has been working with Roberts to bring racing back to Scarborough, added: “I watched my first road race at Oliver’s Mount in short pants back in the early 1950s and it ignited my passion for racing. We couldn’t let this historic track crumble into the history books. We need road racing in England, it’s one of the finest tracks in the world; it’s unique. I can’t wait to hear and witness classic and modern bikes race around this demanding track once again.” Key to Roberts’ and Grant’s success has been convincing the council that racing can safely return to the track, but Scarborough Borough Council leader, Cllr Derek J Bastiman, is confident that the team will deliver what’s needed. “I am particularly impressed with their proposals for bringing the circuit in line with the stringent safety requirements set out by the ACU,” he said.
The safety updates are in response to two serious incidents at the 2017 Gold Cup, which saw riders and spectators suffer injuries when bikes left the circuit, striking fans. This led to a comprehensive risk assessment of the Scarborough circuit being carried out, the findings of which led to the ACU requesting a list of additional safety improvements that the event promoters couldn’t deliver in time to save the 2018 fixtures. Today’s news sees that racing ban overturned and the start of a whole new chapter for the world-famous road circuit.
‘We’re 100% confident racing will take place’ EDDIE ROBERTS, EVENT LICENCEE