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Iron Butt Association Ireland : 2020 Irish Photo Rally

March 7, 2020 by TomBoyNI

The 2020 Irish Photo Rally has now been announced by the Iron Butt Association Ireland. So if you are looking for something fun to do on the island of Ireland this year then this may be the calling you are looking for.

This year the theme is ‘The End of the Line’ and features railways all throughout Ireland, past and present.

There are 15 locations to visit across Ireland between now and the end of September 2020 so plenty of time to get all over the island, as the map shows you will be everywhere.

Not only that, from April to September the IBA Ireland releases one other spot that is only valid for that month – ‘The Brief’ which will be another point of interest somewhere in Ireland. This year they have been kind enough to give some hints as to where ‘The Brief’ will be located so you can plan your trips to take in a few of the 2020 Irish Photo Rally points as well.

The entry is a very fair 10 Euros and I guarantee you will see places you had no idea even existed.

Full details are available on the Official Iron Butt Association Ireland Website.

You can keep up to date with news and announcements on the Official Iron Butt Association Ireland Facebook Page.

Finishing the Iron Butt Association Ireland 2020 Irish Photo Rally and the monthly ‘Briefs’ will probably put a couple of thousand miles on your bike, but every one of them will have a purpose of a very rewarding completion of the rally.

Enjoy.

Oh and in case you were wondering you don’t have to be an IBA Member to complete in this rally, although if you enjoy this you really should considering having a look at the qualifying rides that will make you a member, one specific to Ireland is a full lap of the island within 24 hours – that is an epic day out! (I have done it twice so if you would like to read a little more about those trips you can do so right here.)

If you would like an idea of where previous rallies took you then please read on…

Michael Dunlop to ride with PBM Ducati for 2020 Roads Season

March 2, 2020 by TomBoyNI

This one was just too big to wait for part 3 of the rumour round up!

I’m only saying but if only I could be as accurate with the lottery numbers :

It looks pretty much like there are a few bad certainties this year. It looks like there will be no 2020 Ulster Grand Prix and it looks like Tyco BWM will not be represented on the roads, but my biggest prediction is still out there.
Ducati will ride the Isle of Man TT 2020 – could MD be in the saddle? – It’s just a theory, a prediction, but a fun and exciting one.
T80GSA.com / TBNI.Blog – 19th February 2020

It will be great to have Ducati back on the Isle of Man, the last notable performance came in 2011 when Michael Rutter finished 10th, but before that the marque has had modest success at the TT. There’ve been 10 Ducati wins over the years. Compared to 38 for BMW, 43 for Kawasaki, 94 for Norton, 111 for Suzuki, 233 Yamaha – and 256 for Honda, the most. From finishing records Ducati has 704, Yamaha tops the records with 9,745. – Stats as of 2020.

Ducati fans will also remember this bike and Mike Hailwood’s out-of-retirement win in 1978 aboard the now iconic Ducati 900SS.

If you need to catch up on the rest of the news and rumours since the end of the 2019 Season I have you covered…

2020 Road Racing Pre-Season Rumour Mill

2020 Road Racing Rumours : Road Racing Pre-Season Rumour Mill : Part 2

2020 Road Racing Rumours : Road Racing Pre-Season Rumour Mill : Part 2 :

February 19, 2020 by TomBoyNI

As the season approaches the 2020 road racing rumours and breaking news starts coming in thick and fast and since January a lot has happened!

To catch up on what has happened since the end of 2019 Season make sure to check out this post : https://tbni.blog/2020/01/01/2020-road-racing-pre-season-rumour-mill/

So since New Year’s Day has much happened? Certainly!

Portrush Air Show Cancelled

February 13, 2020 by TomBoyNI

Portrush Air Show Cancelled : Today it has been confirmed that the 2020 Portrush Air Show (Airwaves) has been cancelled thanks to budget cuts by the Causeway Coast and Glens Council.

Somehow the council has found itself £68,000,000 in debt so in its wisdom has decided to cut one of the events that brings huge tourism to the area. Estimates suggest that the Portrush Air Show brings around £2,000,000 to Portrush and the North Coast annually in revenue. The Council funding the Air Show runs to the region of £240,000 – so remove £240k and loose £2 Million. How do these decision makers get in power, why do we vote them in and moreso how do they get their area £68 Million in debt?

The North Coast area of Northern Ireland should be buzzing just one year after The Open came to Royal Portrush Golf Club but instead Portrush is losing events and facilities that should have been securing money to the area and the Portrush Air Show is not all that has suffered.

The full extent of the cuts that the Council will be making can be found here : https://www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/uploads/general/200212_SCM_Item_4_Savings_for_Inclusion_in_rates_Estimates_V2_REDACTED.pdf

But here are some the main points :

The Portrush Air Show is Cancelled.
Waterworld will be closed.
Other Leisure and Environmental Services will be cut.
Rates will increase by 7.65%
New Parking Charges will be introduced.
Bins (Black) will now one be collected monthly.

So really what that means is all the good work and rejuvenation of Portrush in recent years is now wasted. The nostalgic reasons for visiting Portrush for local Northern Irish people is diminishing away to nothing as are the reasons for foreign visitors. Barry’s future is in question, Waterworld will be closed and the Air Show is no more. What was becoming a increasingly desirable place to live with new sea view and sea side apartments popping up everywhere will now suffer with a rates hike. Your rubbish will be emptied once a month, so the amount of vermin will increase, fly tipping will increase and the place will be dirtier – simple science. You’ll get charged for parking, but the good news is there will be loads of spaces because no one will be visiting.

The NW200 is still secured thanks to a new sponsorship deal with FonaCab and Nicholl Oils but this has been a bad and sad day for the North Coast.

Of course there are still reasons to visit one of the most beautiful and one of my personal favourite parts of Northern Ireland, such as the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, The Dark Hedges, Bushmills, Ballintoy Harbour and of course the simply glorious Causeway Coastal Route -so please make sure you do visit and support the area, just don’t expect anything good from the Council whether you are a visitor or resident!

Ring Alarm Review (& Unboxing)

February 10, 2020 by TomBoyNI

Ring Alarm Review & Unboxing :

Price at time of Purchase : £239 for the seven piece set. If you are interested in Ring Devices read on for the TBNI Ring Alarm Review.

Ring are well know for their video doorbells that let you check on who is calling at your door from anywhere in the world in live time and even let you communicate with the caller. There are cheaper video doorbells but I think it is fair to say that Ring are the market leaders, but that is not all they do.

The Ring Security eco-system contains, indoor and outdoor cameras from simple what you see is what you get cameras to cameras with spotlights and even flood lights and sirens. They all work seamlessly with Smart Home Assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home – however unfortunately they have not crossed over into Apple’s HomeKit yet despite promises and teasers for the last couple of years.

The App :

All Ring Devices are managed under the Ring App which does a pretty decent job of letting your organise your devices however you wish and letting you check the view from any of them with a few simple clicks. It all works well.

Pricing :

But this well working doesn’t come without a price, thankfully that price is pretty reasonable, for example an annual subscription for the Ring Video Door Bell is £25, and for £80 you get a year’s subscription for as many Ring Devices as you own. For me that £80 subscription covers the doorbell, an outdoor camera and the newly (end of 2019 in the UK) released Ring Alarm. (You can buy and use the alarm with no subscription but then there is no notifications sent outside of the app should the alarm be activated.

The Future of Irish Road Racing is in the Balance

November 5, 2020January 29, 2020 by TomBoyNI

This post is now even more poignant given the postponements and cancellation of many 2020 events due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Please take the time to read and digest…

I am going to ‘Stickie’ this post until around the start of the Season because I think all road racing fans need to read and share it. The future of Irish Road Racing is in the balance and that balance is slowing tipping the wrong way!

It is relatively bleak reading, but it raises some very valid points. In 2020 we have definitely lost the Enniskillen Road Races with that event opting to relocate to a circuit. Also the Ulster Grand Prix looks very like it will not have a 2020 event – its future beyond that looks grim if the rumoured figures of debt are even remotely true and Cookstown have went on record saying that another bad year or two will put their event in real jeopardy.

Does motorcycle road racing on public roads in Ireland have a future?

2019 Irish Motorbike Awards : Results

January 20, 2020 by TomBoyNI

The 2019 Irish Motorbike Awards in association with Cornmarket Insurance and Charles Hurst Motorcycles were held at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Belfast on Friday 17th January 2020. Here is the full list of the winners.

Check out the Official Facebook Page here : https://www.facebook.com/motorbikeawards/

Check out the Official Twitter Feed here : https://twitter.com/bikeawards

2020 Isle of Man TT Prize Breakdown : Race Winners’ Payout

January 26, 2022January 13, 2020 by TomBoyNI

UPDATE : 2022 Prize Fund Now Available. This post has been updated to reflect the latest 2022 Prize Funds. Find the updated post and and a link to the 2022 Regulations Book here : https://tbni.blog/2022/01/26/2022-tt-races-prize-fund/

It’s 2020 and we are now in almost into the preseason. Chat and rumours are flying about who is moving where? Who is staying put? And who do we still not have a clue about? Then there is the reason you are here – what is the 2020 Isle of Man TT Prize Breakdown?

If you need to catch up have a read at the TBNI 2020 Road Racing Pre-Season Rumour Mill post here : https://tbni.blog/2020/01/01/2020-road-racing-pre-season-rumour-mill/ and then make sure to stay up to date with happenings moving forwards by following the TBNI Social Media Accounts and of course this website!

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/tbnicouk/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/TomBoyNI
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/tbni.blog/

One of the most read posts annually since 2017 on this site is the Winners’ Payout Details (with over 45k unique hits at the time of writing) and since 2017 I have updated annually it with the latest information from the current Regulations Booklet. You can read the entire 2020 book here : (may not be available after 2020) :

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/iom-tt-races/tt_regulations_2020_v1-2.pdf

But if you are just here to see the 2020 Isle of Man TT Prize Breakdown and how much the competitors stand to win in each class then please read on.

Paulo Gonçalves : 12/01/2020 : Statement from the Dakar

January 13, 2020 by TomBoyNI

January 12 ^th2020 – 10:36 [GMT + 3]

Paulo Gonçalves, racing on motorbike no. 8, has passed away from a fall sustained 276 kilometres into today’s special. The organisers received an alert at 10:08 and dispatched a medical helicopter that reached the biker at 10:16 and found him unconscious after going into cardiac arrest. Following resuscitation efforts in situ, the competitor was taken by helicopter to Layla Hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead.

40-year-old Paulo Gonçalves was taking part in his 13th Dakar. He made his debut in 2006 and had finished four times in the top 10, including an impressive performance as runner-up to Marc Coma in 2015. Paulo Gonçalves, the 2013 cross-country rallies world champion, was sitting in 46th place overall after stage 6 of the 2020 Dakar.

The entire Dakar caravan would like to extend its sincere condolences to his friends and family.

2020 Road Racing Pre-Season Rumour Mill

January 1, 2020 by TomBoyNI

Welcome to 2020 and the countdown to the start of the 2020 Road Racing Season. The winter break is now half over so I thought I would put together a quick post of some of the rumours (and facts) that have surfaced over the last couple of months.

If the news and gossip continues to come in at a similar I will need to do another one of these before April because there is a lot of interesting news to get through, unfortunately once you get past the positive and exciting stuff there is some really devastating news out there too, but more on that in a minute.

Happy New Year 2020 : May it be a great one for you all, and all of yours!

But here are some the main points :

Ring Alarm Review & Unboxing :

The App :

Pricing :

January 12 th 2020 – 10:36 [GMT + 3]

Disclosure :

January 12 ^th2020 – 10:36 [GMT + 3]