The NI Motorcycle Festival returns this weekend (8th – 10th February 2019) to the Eikon Centre, Lisburn. In it’s fourth year at the Eikon it is touting itself as Northern Irelands’ Biggest Motorcycle Show and it promises a weekend full of action and bikes.
So what has changed from last year and does it deliver on these promises?
Truth be told, very little has changed. It is still like a big showroom, with a load of stalls in the back.
As you can see in my previous 2018 review I tried my best to find the positives in the show and to be honest I really hate being negative about such things – especially things that involve bikes, a show – and Northern Ireland trying to bring itself on par with events and exhibitions, but sometimes – when there is negativity it just shines through in the truth.
I am not going to paint this one through rose tinted glasses – I hoped things would have improved but alas here it is – the NI Motorcycle Festival 2019 Review.
Important Update : 31st May 2019 : Inclement weather continues to torture this year’s practice and qualifying sessions. Seven days in and we have only had bikes on the course on Sunday and Tuesday. Double practice sessions were scheduled for Thursday, the weather resulted in both being cancelled. Now Friday’s double session is postponed and we will not see bikes on the track until at least 3pm (15:00 local time).
The resulting knockoffs will now certainly affect race week. The racing on Saturday 1st June 2019 has been replaced with a qualifying / practice schedule and Sunday may be the first race day. It could be a very busy week ahead.
Make sure to follow the below Social Media Accounts and Web sites to stay up to date with changes as they are so fluid.
Important Update : 27th May 2019 : Inclement weather is playing havoc with the planned sessions. Saturday has been rescheduled to Sunday, now Monday’s session will be held on Tuesday.
Please make sure to follow social media for live updates :
2019 will see the return to the Mountain Course of the 2018 record breakers: Dean Harrison and Peter Hickman. In perfect conditions they pushed the lap record to over 134mph and finally to 135.452mph – making the Isle of Man TT the fastest road race on the planet. Can they go faster in 2019? Can John McGuinness, Michael Dunlop or Ian Hutchinson handle their pace? With the countdown underway, the answers draw closer!
Peter Hickman Breaking Records at the 2018 Isle of Man TT
The full 2019 Road Racing Calendar has now been updated – a few dates are still to be confirmed, but it is looking like it’s going to be a great event packed summer of 2019.
Make sure to subscribe to the completely free TBNI.Blog Road Racing iCal Calendar – that way you won’t miss a thing!
A load of the Northern Irish and most of the Isle of Man Road Racing Schedules have now been confirmed and added to the TBNI 2019 Road Racing Calendar.
Take yourself over to the Calendar Page for the latest dates – or just take the hassle out of everything by subscribing to the TBNI iCal Road Racing Calendar.
The iCal Calendar is :
Free
Updates automatically on your iCal compatible device
Is subscribed to with one click
Needs no access to any of your personal information (all you are doing is subscribing to a feed – so your device never gives out info – ever).
Has all the details to make sure you never miss another meeting
Motorcycle Live 2018 ran this year from 17th – 25th November, so now that is over I can post up a few photographs along with my thoughts on the show and what I saw this year without having to issue a spoiler.
This year saw 4 halls filled with the current (and upcoming) offerings of 40 manufacturers along with a chance to test ride numerous machines both on the road and on the ever popular Adventure course where you can test on the most popular adventure bikes on a well thought indoor track. It’s not taxing, not difficult at all, but it is fun.
The Live Arena was also present and what was previously a showcase for Arena Cross this year was taken over by Moto Cirque and what these guys can do on such a small stage really is spectacular. If you get that the chance to see their show in full, take it.
Other than that it is all about the bikes and I have composed a gallery of over 100 photos for your viewing pleasure but first I am going to point out a few of my highlights…
The 2018 road racing season officially ends at the Macau Grand Prix. With bikes, supercars and race cars all battling (of course not at the same time) on one of the most extreme and dangerous circuits on the planet.
Here you will find all the practice sessions, qualifying sessions, race results and timings from the 52nd Suncity Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix (2018) :
When reading the results below the following format applies :
Position : Rider Number : Rider Name : Nationality : Team : Motorcycle : Race Time : Laps Completed : Fastest Lap Average Speed (km/h) : Best Lap Time : Best Lap Number
Please note the schedules may change at very short notice. Stay up to date using the links above.
The information below is not live and will or has already changed!
Scroll to the bottom of this article for the 2019 CLASSIC TT & MANX GRAND PRIX Provisional Qualifying and Race Programme
Following the success of the 2018 MGP races, the organisers, The Manx Motor Cycle Club, will retain the same programme for 2019.This will see things kick off with the Newcomers’ race on bank holiday Monday 26th August 2019.
Wednesday of race week will see the Junior MGP Race with thefirst of the two Lightweight/Ultra-lightweight races in the afternoon. Friday features the second Lightweight/Ultra-lightweight races in the morning, followed by the grand finale of the Senior MGP Race bringing the event to a close in the afternoon.
Once again, the Lightweight race will feature the popular 650cc twin cylinder machines, and the Ultra-lightweight race, the 400cc, 125cc and Moto 3 bikes.
The club has decided to buck the trend and retain the class for 400 and 125cc bikes at a time when many race organisers have dropped the category.
Manx Motor Cycle Club chairman, Peter Maddocks said: ‘We felt it was appropriate for us to retain the smaller capacity class as it offers an opportunity for younger new riders to enter the event and get them interested in competing on the Mountain Course.’
Any newcomers wishing to be considered for the 2019 event should register their interest by email to [email protected]
Practices for the 2019 Manx Grand Prix start on Saturday, August 17th and the event finishes with the Senior race on Friday, August 30th.
Southern 100 Racing, organisers of the Isle of Man Steam PacketCompany Southern 100 International Road Races are to make anumber of changes to their racing classes for the 2019 event whichtakes place Monday to Thursday 8th – 11th July.
The main change is the dropping of the ‘Ultra-Lightweight’ 125cc/400cc class from the programme along with the discontinuationof the Support races.
However, with the increasing number of entries being received for600cc machines, the organisers are to include an additional race forthis class.
Welcoming the announcement, star of the 2018 MCE Insurance UGP and Man of the Meeting, Peter Hickman, who romped to easy victories in both the 600 and superbike races said: “I’m already looking forward to racing back at the Ulster GP, it’s one of the best circuits on earth!”
The dates for the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix have been confirmed.
Wednesday 7th August 2019 will get the Practice Sessions underway.
Thursday 8th August 2019 will see four race sessions – currently scheduled as Superbike, Supersport, Ultra Lightweight/Lightweight and Supertwins.
Saturday 10th August 2019 is Race Day and is currently scheduled for 7 race sessions across all classes.
“It’s always close racing and the track is a firm favourite among fans and riders alike, but there is so much more to enjoy during Bike Week, as it is five days packed with full of entertainment and activities for all ages.”
Now is a good time to subscribe to the TBNI.Blog Road Racing Calendar. It is a totally freeiCal Calendar you you can add to your phone / iPad / tablet / home computer etc and it will automatically update with all the dates for the all the Irish, Northern Irish and Manx Road Racing Meetings. It is completely secure, ad-free, free and regularly updated with the latest info including meeting dates, road closures and any important announcements.
The calendar is now entering its third year and is an absolutely essential resource for your race attendance planning, so if you are still to subscribe and wondering what to do, it is very simple – just click the link…
2018 Mrs Brown’s Boys East Coast Racing Festival Results :
Derek McGee at the 2018 Mrs Brown’s Boys East Coast Racing Festival
Sunday 9th August 2018 – the final race day for the Irish National Road Racing Calendar and it took us to Killalane for the 2018 East Coast Racing Festival sponsored by – strangely enough – Mrs Brown’s Boys. Fair play though Brown’s seemed to get right into the spirit of things coming up with a funky wee logo and and even more funky bus…
It also say the return to the roads of Derek McGee who just one month ago was knocked out of action at the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod…
Derek would like to thank everyone for their messages. All the injuries should heal. Disappointing end to the day from a non fault accident. We wish Seamus a speedy recovery too. The times looked promising & we were at the sharp end and feeling confident of decent results pic.twitter.com/jnWYbh7E3E
If we remove that slight hiccup from the equation the result is Derek McGee taking 15 wins from 15 races – a phenomenal achievement and one well worthy of a round of applause – !applause!
It didn’t come easy though as throughout the final Derek Shiels was snapping at his heels on the Cookstown Burrows Engineering bike taking second place by a mere 0.185s! The third place podium went to Michael Sweeney, Paul Jordan taking fourth.
2018 Mrs Brown’s Boys East Coast Racing Festival Results
Read on for the full results from every one of the day’s races…
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