Still too early to make a decision on motorcycling season
Malcolm Offline
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Still too early to make a decision on motorcycling season
[Image: Cookstown5.jpg]
All Irish road races in 2020 have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis with the exception of the Tandragee 100 and Cookstown 100.
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Still too early to make a decision on motorcycling season, says sport's governing body in Northern Ireland

The Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) says it is ‘still too early’ to make a decision on the remainder of the season as the Covid-19 crisis continues to shackle sport around the UK.

On Friday, a majority of Directors in the Ulster Centre were in favour of cancelling the rest of the campaign and a statement to this effect was due to be issued on Saturday.

However, the organisation’s Secretary and General Press Officer, David McAllister, said he was requested to hold the statement back.

Following a meeting on Monday evening, a statement was then issued to the press on Tuesday, which said any remaining events scheduled in 2020 would only go ahead with the ‘support and agreement of government, local councils, PSNI, insurance and the wonderful NHS’.

The statement said:

“The local Motorcycle Governing Body, the MCUI Ulster Centre have recently received a framework document from Sport NI, and are presently reviewing the 24 page document for guidance & compliance. Motorcycling (Motorsport) is classified as non contact (stage 5). We are currently in stage 1.

“As guidance and restrictions continue to change, it is still too early to make any decision on all events and we will continue to develop our operational plan to resume if possible whilst continuing to review and communicate with the various relevant authorities in the coming months.

“If any events were to go ahead it would only be with the support and agreement with our Government, Local Councils, PSNI, Insurance and the wonderful NHS.”


The statement also highlighted the need for agreement with various officials such as timekeepers, marshals and medical personnel in order to proceed with any race meetings this year.

“Within the sport, we also need the agreement of the dedicated medical teams and first aiders, timekeepers, scrutineering, marshals, flag marshals and all the fantastic people it takes to run a race, not forgetting the people we're actually all here for, the competitors and the race fans.

“If it turns out that that's not possible this year then at least the operational plan will have been developed so we're a step closer to running next year.”


The response comes after the sport’s governing body in the Republic of Ireland, Motorcycling Ireland – incorporating the Southern Centre – condemned Ulster Centre clubs for pressing ahead with plans to run their events ‘in the current climate’.

All Irish road races in the south in 2020 have been cancelled and Motorcycling Ireland President, Sean Bissett, suggested in last week’s divisive statement that the sport was being cast in a bad light.

Mr Bissett made his comments after the Cookstown 100 organisers last week revealed they intended to run their event with restrictions on spectator numbers in September.

In Sport NI’s framework document for the resumption of sport in Northern Ireland, released on Friday, motorcycle racing is included in the non-contact sports category and falls within Step 5 of the guidance, which is in line with the NI Executive’s Five-Step Plan for easing lockdown.

At present, sports organisations are currently planning how to implement Step 1 of the advice.

When sport progresses through the various stages of the guidance and eventually reaches Step 5, spectators would ‘be able to attend live events on a restricted basis’, but also in line with the Public Health Agency’s guidelines at the time.

Any conditions in place relating to the size of public gatherings in Northern Ireland will also apply in Step 5.

Currently, groups of up to six people who do not share a household are permitted to meet outside.



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Kyle White

27-05-2020, 01:57 PM
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RE: Still too early to make a decision on motorcycling season
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All off-road motorcycle racing in Northern Ireland has been suspended since March 17.
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Governing body of motocross in Ulster rules out return until final stage of NI Executive's plan for easing lockdown

The governing body of off-road motorcycle sport in Ulster says it does not anticipate any racing will take place ‘before Stage 5 of the Northern Ireland Executive’s plan to ease lockdown restrictions.

The Motorcycle Racing Association (Ireland) Ltd provided an update yesterday regarding any possible return to competition in 2020, and also addressed ‘ill-informed rumours circulating on social media’.

A statement said:

“The Officers and Directors of the Motorcycle Racing Association (Ireland) Ltd., official Governing Body of Off Road Motorcycle Sport in Ulster, would like to update all competitors and members of the current situation regarding a return to competition as there are some ill-informed rumours currently circulating on social media.

“As per the published plan for a return to competition, the Directors would like to categorically state that contrary to claims made online, the annual Insurance has not been cancelled as this was paid in full in November 2019 as usual.

“The MRA Directors are committed to a return to racing as soon as possible in line with the Operational Plan, and the NI Executive’s Five Stage Strategy.

“The MRA have been working with, and taking advice from numerous Government agencies, including the Department for Communities, Sport NI, NI Sports Forum and our own Insurers, Sports Insure on every avenue to ensure a safe return to competition.”


The statement reiterated that ‘all motorcycling activity’ remains suspended, as per the association’s initial announcement on March 17.

It continued:

“We do not envisage any competition before Stage 5 of the NI Executive’s plan, and as our previous announcement of 17th March 2020 stated, ALL motorcycling activity is suspended until we have all clear from the above agencies.

“We would ask our competitors and licence holders to observe the current lockdown protocols and keep the pressure off our NHS Services. We would like to pass on our appreciation and gratitude to all the staff at Department for Communities, Sport NI and NI Sports Forum for the hard work and support they are putting in to ensure a safe return to all sporting action as soon as possible.

“Thanks to everyone for their patience and understanding in these extraordinary times, and please, take this pandemic seriously and stay safe.”


On Tuesday, the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) – which oversees short circuit and road racing in Northern Ireland – said it was ‘too early’ to make a decision on any events still scheduled to take place this year.

All Irish road races in the Republic of Ireland have been cancelled, while the North West 200 was also called off until 2021. The Isle of Man TT, Southern 100, Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix will also not take place until next year.

The Armoy Road Races in July were also cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and last week the organisers of the end-of-season Sunflower Trophy short circuit meeting at Bishopscourt in Co Down cancelled their planned meeting in October.

As it stands, the Cookstown 100 and Tandragee 100 events are the only road races currently postponed, with the Cookstown organisers intent on running the Co Tyrone race in September with restricted spectator numbers – if it is possible to do so under the government rules in place at the time.

A number of Ulster Superbike short circuit events at Bishopscourt and Kirkistown also remain scheduled to go ahead at present.

In a clash between the governing bodies on both sides on the border, Motorcycling Ireland – which runs short circuit and road racing in the south – issued a highly critical condemnation of their counterparts’ plans to press ahead with events such as the Cookstown 100.

In a statement, MCI President Sean Bissett said his organisation was ‘alarmed and annoyed’ over the situation and suggested motorcycle racing was being painted in a bad light ‘in the current climate’.



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Kyle White

28-05-2020, 01:04 PM
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