Cookstown 100 postponed until later in year

The news was announced on Monday evening, with the organising club now aiming to run the Co Tyrone road race - due to have taken place in April - on September 10-11.

Last year, the Cookstown meeting was the only Irish national road race that took place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A statement said: “The directors of Cookstown & District Motorcycle Club (RR) Ltd held various conversations over the last few weeks in regards to the 2021 Cookstown 100 event, which had been scheduled to take place on the last weekend in April 2021.

“After receiving advice and information from various bodies in regards to the current situation within our community with the ongoing pandemic, the club has taken the decision to postpone our event until the 10th & 11th of September 2021.

“We as organisers of the event are extremely disappointed, but we must put the health and safety of our residents, officials, competitors and spectators first.

"Whilst it is welcomed that the current vaccine process has begun, the timeframe of which the vaccine will be distributed to everyone in the community, means the timing of our event in April brings too much uncertainty to competitors, spectators and of course to the club ourselves.”

The statement said the postponement would allow time for the Covid-19 situation to improve, with less pressure on the NHS anticipated later in the year.

It continued: “While this may come as a disappointment to many, we must act in a responsible way and allow time for the vaccine to help protect the community and also allow time for the NHS to become less overwhelmed.

“We hope that by giving extra time in 2021 before running our event, we are in a much better position in our community by September and we will bring another great few days racing, just as we did in 2020.”

The decision comes after the cancellation of the Tandragee 100 and all national road races in the Republic of Ireland, with the exception of the Skerries 100.

A final decision on the North West 200 is expected at the end of January or early February.

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