Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1494211
VOLUME ISSUE MARCH , P139 split in two with control of its destiny in the hands of the MCUI and a separate organizing body, Motorcycling Ireland in the Republic of Ireland (based in the UK). It's a bit like when the WERA's Formula USA and AMA Superbike were at each other's throats. The two control - ling interests make it incredibly difficult to ensure the correct decisions to grow the sport can be made, rather than just com - mercial cheap shots. There is no combined road racing championship in Ireland/ Northern Ireland, which, given that the riders who compete are generally the same across both championships, is quite bizarre. Having a multitude of events run by different organizations and clubs mean the bargaining power is significantly reduced in the face of rising insurance costs. Each race is promoted by a club, usually made up of volun - teers, and with so many vested interests at play, it makes it im- possible to have a united front. The insurance and club dramas have already seen the death of the Ulster Grand Prix, its last race being held pre-Covid in 2019. Since the news on Feb - ruary 9, the club that promotes the North West 200, Northern Ireland's largest sporting event that brings in over $12, million to the local economy, looks like it will go ahead with a crowd - funding effort, sponsorship and private donations flooding in to cover the bill. The Isle of Man TT, however, is different. The TT is pro - moted and paid for by the Manx government and has a team of professional marketers, spon - sorship acquisition experts and TV production professionals at its disposal, with the 2022 TT the first of its kind to receive live streaming via its TT Live Plus app. In an article posted on Bike Sport News, the newly ap - pointed Isle of Man Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston gleefully announced the TT had covered all the necessary insurance costs for the 2023 event (which is good for me as I'm racing at the TT this year), despite the bill for all the events run on the Isle topping out at a whopping $1.1 million. "The cover is provided to the race organizer by a permit issue by the Auto Cycle Union, the governing body for motorcycle sports in the UK and the Isle of Man," Johnston said. "I appreci - ate that the recent news ema- nating from Northern Ireland regarding from road racing will have been of concern for TT fans, local residents and busi- nesses. Increasing costs are a challenge for all motorsport events and such challenges are amongst the many reasons why the department has a clear plan in place to continue to grow and diversify the audience for the TT, in turn generating additional income and broader exchequer benefit to ensure the long-term sustainability of the event." The TT has proved there's still a hunger for real roads racing in the British Isles, and there's also the IRRC (International Road Race Championship) held throughout Europe in places like Germany, the Czech Republic and Belgium that riders and fans can attend. That series is run under a different management and insurance structure and has been silent on the matter as the Northern Irish and Irish orga - nizations appear to be in crisis mode. Street road racing came to a stop in this country many years ago and street racing really isn't in the American DNA, with only a few riders in the last half centu- ry flying the stars and stripes at international road race events, such as Dave Roper and more recently, Mark Miller. The sport is, however, very much part of the Irish and Northern Irish DNA, so here's hoping they can get this mess sorted because you can guaran - tee that once it's gone, it's not coming back. CN It's a bit like when the WERA's Formula USA and AMA Superbike were at each other's throats.