Hammer blow as majority of all Ulster road races cancelled in 2023

The news comes following an emergency meeting of the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) on Thursday night, when the decision was taken due to soaring insurance costs.

However, the organisers of the North West 200 have not given up hope that the event will take place as planned in May.

Clubs were facing costs three times higher for insurance than they paid in 2022, with the total overall quote for the necessary cover this year totalling around £410,000, the bulk of which was made up of public liability insurance.

Events that have been called off include the Cookstown 100, Tandragee 100, Armoy and Ulster Grand Prix, plus the Sunflower Trophy meeting at Bishopscourt.

National road races were looking at an insurance bill of £53,280 – more than three times the £16,850 they paid in 2022 – while the North West 200 faced a massive rise from £30,800 to over £97,000.

Short circuit meetings were also hit hard by the hike, with insurance payments for one-day events rising from £2,450 in 2022 to £7,750 this year, while clubs running two-day meetings were being asked to stump up £11,980 compared to £3,790 last year.

A statement issued by the MCUI Ulster Centre on Thursday night said: “The consensus was that the costs proposed were, at this time, unsustainable for most clubs in order to provide the required public liability cover to run our planned events.

“The MCUI (UC) will, however, continue to pursue all options for the provision of Public Liability insurance, should they arise in the near future.”

Motocross events, run by a separate organisation – the Motorcycle Racing Association (MRA) – are not affected and will go ahead as planned.

A number of significant claims have been paid out in recent years and insurance companies have become concerned about their liabilities, although economic headwinds in the insurance market have also resulted in higher premiums.

The MCUI Ulster Centre was also asked to commit to paying an excess of £300,000 on any claim for racing accidents this year, adding to the financial pressure.

The situation is equally as bleak in the Republic of Ireland, with Motorcycling Ireland unable to reach an accommodation with any insurance providers.

The MCUI Ulster Centre is now seeking to secure personal accident cover for its racing licence holders, which is required for competitors wishing to compete elsewhere in the UK or further afield.

“Although there will be no MCUI (UC) events run in 2023, this will allow MCUI (UC) licence holders to avail of insurance cover required for starting permission applications in order to compete in events elsewhere, outside of the MCUI (UC) jurisdiction,” the statement added.

“We appreciate that this situation is far from ideal, however although we have been unable to secure the running of events for this year, this arrangement and decision will go a little way to at least allowing licence holders the opportunity to engage in competitive events, should they wish, with the appropriate cover and security.”

On Friday, Mondello Park announced that all motorcycle events at the Co Kildare venue, including the Dunlop Masters Championship, have been called off because of the insurance crisis.

A statement said: “Due to the on-going insurance issues being encountered by Motorcycling Ireland (MCI), the governing body of Motorcycle Sport in Ireland, Mondello Park regret to announce that they will be unable to run any Motorcycle Racing events at the venue during 2023.

“Mondello Park promotes the Dunlop Masters Superbike Championship in partnership with the MCI Short Circuit Committee, under permit from and in accordance with the rules set out by MCI. Insurance cover for competitors and officials, along with public liability insurance, is provided by MCI and without that insurance race events cannot take place.”

Mondello Park described the loss of the Dunlop Masters Superbike Championship as a ‘major blow’ to motorcycle racing in the south.

“The cancellation of the 2023 Dunlop Masters Championship is a major blow to Irish Motorcycle Racing, Mondello Park and the Masters Championship,” added the statement.

“The loss of racing is also a setback to all of the teams and competitors who have invested so much time, effort and money in preparing for the 2023 Masters, particularly as their levels of commitment to the series had grown so strongly following the enormous success of the 2022 season.”

The statement said that if a solution could be found to the insurance impasse, Mondello Park would endeavour to facilitate a return to racing as soon as possible.

It continued: “Mondello Park will continue to do what it can to assist Motorcycling Ireland in organising a return to racing and if a solution can be found to the insurance issues Mondello Park will facilitate, where possible, a return to racing at the earliest opportunity.”

The circuit’s Motorcycle Track Day activities are unaffected by the MCI insurance issues.

Last year, Thomas O’Grady won the Dunlop Masters Superbike title in dramatic style after a thrilling last-corner pass on rival Derek Sheils to seal the championship in the final race of the season.