On February 9, 2023, news
of all Northern Irish road races
being canceled was confirmed
by the Motorcycling Union of
Ireland (MCUI), one of two con
-
trolling bodies of the sport, due
to
sky-rocketing public liability
insurance costs.
"The consensus was that the
costs proposed were, at this
time, unsustainable for most
clubs in order to provide the
required public liability cover to
run our planned events," said
MCIU Chairman John Dillon in
an article posted on The-Race.
com. "The MCUI will, however,
continue to pursue all options
for the provision of public liabil-
ity insurance, should they arise
in the near future."
As it turns out, the press
release issued by the MCUI was
a bit of a jump start. Insurance
costs have indeed gone up a
rumored three-fold this year
with single event licenses now
costing upwards of $481,000.
But, go a bit deeper and you'll
see the sport has always been
I
s this the end of road racing?
Perhaps not entirely, but, make
no mistake, the sport that
started it all is in absolute dire
straits in its spiritual home of
Ireland and Northern Ireland.
You can blame a number of
factors for this, but the main one
is the one that almost always
kills fun considered outlandish
and dangerous—insurance.
P138
CN II LOWSIDE
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
THE END OF
ROAD RACING?
The news of all Northern Irish road
races being canceled due to sky-
rocketing public liability insurance
costs is bad news for all.
