Coronavirus: Organisers 'very reluctantly' announce cancellation of Southern 100 in July

The event organisers announced the inevitable news on Thursday morning.

In recent years the ‘Friendly Races’ have been dominated by top road racers Dean Harrison and Ulsterman Michael Dunlop, who sustained a broken pelvis in a heavy crash at the event last year when he was high-sided from the Tyco BMW.

The meeting at the 4.25-mile Billown course had been due to take place from July 6-9. The Pre-TT races at the same course (May 29-June 1) and the Post-TT Races (June 13) have also been cancelled as a result of the global COVID-19 outbreak.

In a statement, Southern 100 Racing said: “Southern 100 Racing held a meeting of its senior race officials on Wednesday evening 18th March to discuss the running of the 2020 Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Southern 100 Road Races, either on the scheduled dates of 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th July or possibly postpone them until later in the year.

“It was decided after discussion regarding the present and on-going situation regarding the Coronavirus 19 crisis and the announcement by the Isle of Man Government’s Chief Minister earlier today that the current situation could continue for at least a further six months; and after consultation with the club’s Chief Medical Officer regarding the availability of Doctors and Paramedics to cover the races – many of whom travel from the UK – that that it is unlikely that they will able to leave their respective positions; we would have insufficient cover to run the races on the scheduled dates or any other.

“The Doctors, Paramedics and other medical people who live on the Island will be similarly occupied at Nobles & Ramsey Cottage Hospital and other Medical practices and will, like their UK counterparts, be involved with the COVID-19 cover and unlikely to be allowed to take leave.”

The statement added that difficulty in obtaining the required number of marshals for the event was also anticipated given current travel restrictions.

It continued: “Added to the lack of medical cover there is also the likelihood of a shortage of Race Marshals due to travel restrictions presently in place, which may well be increased between now and July and could result in less than the required number of marshals available to man the 4.25-mile Colas Billown Course.

“It was therefore decided by the Race Committee, very reluctantly, to announce the cancellation of the 2020 Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Southern 100 Road Races. The Committee felt it was better to take this decision now, rather than defer on a monthly basis in the hope that Medical cover would become available at the ‘last minute’.

“Whilst it is major disappointment for the race organisers, we know that the announcement will be met with a similar response from competitors and race fans who enjoy attending the ‘friendly races’ year on year and Southern 100 Racing look forward to welcoming you all back to the Billown Course in 2021.

“This also means that the postponement of the Blackford’s Pre-TT Classic Road Races announced in a Media Release on Monday 16th March are now also cancelled. Competitors who have entered will be contacted by the Race or Club Secretary in the next few days.”

The news comes after the postponement of the Cookstown 100, Tandragee 100 and North West 200 road races and the cancellation of the 2020 Isle of Man TT.