IRISH ROAD-RACING
Even as we rush towards vaccinations, the way ahead for many classic racing events is still uncertain around the world, including the Emerald Isle.
We recap what happened last year and look forward to 2021.
With Irish Classic racing still reeling from the loss of almost all of 2020’s fixtures, it came as yet another body blow when it was announced that all southern Irish road racing has been cancelled for 2021.
This decision comes on top of the cancellation of this year’s TT and Classic TT by the Isle of Man Government as well as the cancellation of this year’s North West 200, Ulster Grand Prix and Tandragee road races.
While huge insurance premiums, as well as the effort and personnel required are always factors when organising any road race event, this year the primary consideration was the
prevalence of Covid-19 and the decisions taken were out of responsibility in that regard as it was deemed that it would be dangerous, if not reckless, to have large numbers of people from all corners of the island descending on a small area at a time when the priority must be to join the global effort of tackling this pandemic head-on, regardless of where we hope to be in terms of the rolling out of the vaccines.
An additional factor is viability and although some suggested that perhaps a few southern races could be run along similar lines as the 2020 Cookstown 100, the only road race of last year which saw dramatically reduced attendance in line with UK Government guidelines, this proposal was never likely to gain momentum due to the loss of essential revenue resulting from the curtailed spectator numbers and the belief that a poorly funded event could well jeopardise future events.
Of additional regret is the loss of the
Skerries 100 which would have celebrated its 75th running this year, and we can only dream of what special events the Loughshinny Club would have organised to herald this special milestone, but the decision from Motorcycling Ireland, that no permits will be issued during Covid lockdown, is clear and emphatic.
While road racing in Ulster is in a similar situation with the confirmation of cancellations by the North West 200 and Tandragee, there is a glimmer of optimism that one or two events might make it to fruition. Cookstown, traditionally the first event on the Irish calendar, has again applied for a September slot. This is very encouraging as last year the Cookstown club adopted this same approach and emerged as the only club on the island to run a road race, albeit with dramatically reduced attendance.
Similarly Armoy, The Race of Legends, has announced that their event is at the planning stages and a July slot has been applied for.
We wish them the best of luck with their endeavours. Watch this space, and enjoy these pictures from last year’s Cookstown!