Coronavirus NI: North West 200 launch postponed - Organisers due to meet public health officials on Monday - Start of Irish road racing season in doubt

The organisers of the North West 200 have confirmed that this week’s official launch of the event has been postponed as a result of coronavirus concerns.
The organisers of the North West 200 have postponed the launch of the event in Coleraine on Wednesday due to coronavirus.The organisers of the North West 200 have postponed the launch of the event in Coleraine on Wednesday due to coronavirus.
The organisers of the North West 200 have postponed the launch of the event in Coleraine on Wednesday due to coronavirus.

The ‘Meet the Riders’ evening had been scheduled to take place at the Lodge Hotel in Coleraine on Wednesday.

A statement said there are no plans to cancel the international road race but revealed that Event Director Mervyn Whyte and his organisational team are due to meet with the Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, Dr Michael McBride, and public health representatives on Monday to ‘seek further advice and information’.

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The Irish sporting calendar has been decimated with cancellations and postponements this weekend, including the suspension of all Northern Ireland football matches until April 3.

North West 200 Event Director Mervyn Whyte is set to meet with public health officials on Monday to seek further advice amidst growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.North West 200 Event Director Mervyn Whyte is set to meet with public health officials on Monday to seek further advice amidst growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
North West 200 Event Director Mervyn Whyte is set to meet with public health officials on Monday to seek further advice amidst growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Friday’s statement from the NW200 organisers said: “In the light of the current public concern around Coronavirus, the organisers of the 2020 fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 have decided to postpone the Meet the Stars of the North West 200 event scheduled for March 18 in the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine.

“The organisers will attend a special briefing with public health officials, including the Chief Medical Officer of Northern Ireland, on Monday, March 16, to seek further advice and information as we continue to plan for North West 200 Race Week on May 10-16. There are no plans to cancel Race Week at this time.

“Hopefully following Monday’s meeting further information will be issued re rescheduling of the Meet the Stars event during the coming weeks.”

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Riders who had been confirmed to attend the NW200 launch included Glenn Irwin, Davey Todd, John McGuinness, Alastair Seeley, Adam McLean, Dean Harrison, Paul Jordan, Brian McCormack and high profile newcomer James Ellison.

The Cookstown 100 is the first Irish road race on the calendar from April 24-25.The Cookstown 100 is the first Irish road race on the calendar from April 24-25.
The Cookstown 100 is the first Irish road race on the calendar from April 24-25.

The scheduled start of the Irish road racing season next month with the Cookstown 100 is clearly in doubt, with reports suggesting the Government is set to introduce a ban on mass gatherings next week.

In the Republic of Ireland, all GAA, football and rugby matches have been cancelled until March 29 at least, while horse racing meetings will go ahead behind closed doors during the same period.

The first southern road race is scheduled to be the Kells meeting from June 20-21.

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Meanwhile, it is understood the organisers of the Isle of Man TT have garnered the opinions of race teams over the possibility of running the event later this year in August, potentially in place of the Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix. However, the official stance at present is that the TT will go ahead as planned in June.

The launch of the 2020 TT Races is set to take place on Friday, March 27.

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