TBNI.co.uk is now proud to announce that our Road Racing Calendar will continue for the 2024 Irish, Northern Irish, Manx and International Road Racing Season. It has grown over the last seven years and this year it is absolutely massive! It now also includes Oliver’s Mount Road Racing Events, the Ulster Superbike Championship, BSB, WorldSBK and MotoGP! Our iCal Calendar is your only stop for all top tier global motorcycle racing events and is now available and open to subscription!
Yet another motorsport event falls victim to spiralling costs, increased Health and Safety requirements and ultimately lack of funding.
At this rate only the big players such as Formula 1, and Moto GP will survive and we will be stuck with what YouTube reminds us of our local events, when motorsports were there for all, to be attended and enjoyed by all.
The Club want the event back for 2018 – I really hope that happens, but unfortunately I see this as another step on the slippery slope to the end of local motorsports. At least thanks to these ever increasing Health and Safety Standards we will all be absolutely safe, contained in our life preserving bubbles, I wonder what the view will be like though, hopefully not too bright as that could damage our retinas! H&S will need to look at that!
Respected team owner John Burrows says he fears the unique spectacle of Irish road racing could disappear for good unless swift action is taken to safeguard the future of the sport.
As exclusively revealed by the News Letter in January, the cost of providing insurance cover for National road races in 2017 has risen by as much as £4,500. Clubs are also facing potentially crippling excess payments, which have soared from £1,000 per claim in 2016 to £2,500 this year.
In the past week, two popular races in the Republic of Ireland – the Killalane and Kells events in North Dublin and Co Meath respectively – have been called off as a direct result of spiralling insurance premiums.
Only three races are due to go ahead in the South, including the famous Skerries 100 (July 1), Walderstown (July 9) and the Faugheen 50 meeting on July 23.
It was only yesterday that I posted about this problem, and I mentioned the need for us all to support our local clubs, and buy programs when we go to the events. We really need to make sure we safeguard the future of this unique sport for many more generations to come!
2017 Killalane Road Races Cancelled Due to Soaring Insurance Costs
2017 Killalane Road Races Cancelled Due to Soaring Insurance Costs
The Killalane Road Races, will not be taking place this year, following a decision made by event organisers Loughshinny Motorcycle Supporters Club, who will continue to promote in 2017, the Skerries 100 scheduled to take place on the 1st of July.
With the various news in recent weeks about insurance premium’s going up for all Irish roads meeting’s, it’s fair to say quite a few people expected, the 2017 Irish roads calendar to be reduced in size.
In total this year, their will be seven Irish national meeting’s, the Cookstown 100, Tandragee 100, Kells(editted – also cancelled), Skerries 100, Walderstown, Armoy and Faugheen 50 Road Races.
Unfortunately from the time the above was writted Kells Road Racing Event has also unfortunately been cancelled – hence the strikethrough.
This is obviously horrific news and a major blow to the Irish Road Racing scene all over the island and should be seen as a harsh reality check for all spectators of the sport.
Happy Super Bowl Sunday – the one American Football match of the year that the majority of the UK also pretend to know whats happening! ?
For me, I’m going with the Atlanta Falcons for the win.
Happy SuperBowl LI Sunday – 2017 – Falcons v Patriots
UPDATE : After a bit of research it seems the Simpsons have already covered this. And as I am sure we all know the Simpsons love to predict things and on this one they predict the Patriots…
The Simpsons predict Superbowl LI Result?
Time for a rethink?
On January 27 & 28th 2017 the ArenaCross UK Tour graced Belfast’s Odyssey Arena for two rounds of the UK Competition. With everyone from 7 year old kids to Europe’s finest indoor Motorcross Racers and a ridiculously skilled Freestyle Team this really is a high octane, completely flat out show from start to finish – and it’s a format that works and this is its fifth year on the bounce in Belfast – and my second.
Check out the official website here for all the results, upcoming events, news and photos… http://www.arenacrossuk.com
So this is it for this trip, the final day. The boat is about 7pm so unfortunately that means no viewing of the practice session tonight. That’s one of the bad points on coming over for Practice Week from Northern Ireland – the sailings aren’t perfect, but I suppose there is no way round it unless the Steam Packet put on an 11:00pm sailing – Hint Hint…
On getting packed up the hotel kindly offered to look after my gear and panniers so I could go and enjoy the mountain again – just another reason why I absolutely will go back to this hotel without any qualm.
The Rosslyn Hotel – Isle of Man
After a meet up with the guys in Douglas, some breakkie and a quick walk around the town and a catching of the sights it was time to head out back out towards the track.
The Legendary Isle of Man Horse Drawn Tram
It was on this walk around the town that I called into the RoadSkin pop up store and purchased myself a nice Roodskin motorcycle hoodie (which I have been wearing regularly ever since) and a pair of jeans (which I have yet to pull on) – the pop up store saving me well over £100 on these two items alone, oh and I picked up a couple of neck warmers too.
(Long Term Review to follow on the RoadsSkin Gear)
After yesterday’s rumours and my theory that’d we know more by Wednesday / Thursday, guess what? It is Wednesday and we know more! Without further ado here is the news and it is good!
Oh and before the internet warriors and those who specialise in the keyboard and living under bridges, a chap can change his mind and like it or lump it, this is a huge boost for the Road Racing Scene. Welcome back Guy Martin!
Looks like TT tickets may be even harder to get this year!
John McGuinness and Guy Martin complete Honda Racing dream team.
Honda Motor Europe is delighted to announce an exciting two-rider line-up for its 2017 Road Racing assault at the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT in the Superbike classes. Re-signing for the Honda Racing team is TT legend John McGuinness, who will be joined by Guy Martin on the all-new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2.
Making his return to racing after a year away, fan favourite Martin will form a formidable team with McGuinness and the brand new Fireblade SP2 on the roads. Martin has enjoyed huge success on the roads during his career securing wins at various races including the Ulster GP, Scarborough Gold Cup, Armoy, Cookstown and also the Southern 100. He has also stepped on the TT podium 15 times and will be chasing his elusive maiden TT win with the Honda Racing team.
Meanwhile, McGuinness will be looking to add to his impressive tally of 23 TT wins, and riding the new Fireblade SP2, will also be aiming to recapture his lap record which was broken during last year’s race.
The Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade is the most successful 1000cc machine ever at the Isle of Man TT and Honda aims to add to its remarkable record with the new SP2 version, which is the ultimate expression of the Fireblade’s Next Stage Total Control concept.
The SP2 is a road legal homologation special based on the Fireblade SP that is specifically developed for racing and features a revised cylinder head with larger valve sizes and lightweight Marchesini wheels for even greater performance.
The all-new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 will make its road racing debut at the North West 200 in May.
For all the latest news and information on the Honda Racing team follow @HondaRacingCBR on Twitter.
John McGuinness:
“I’m back with Honda for another year; really I’m part of the family, and I can’t wait to see what the new Fireblade SP2 can do! I know the old model like the back of my hand and have taken a lot of my TT wins with the old girl, so I can’t wait to get out on track and try the new machine out. I have a good feeling about this year and think we have a really good package to show that we mean business. I of course would like another TT win and I would quite like my lap record back! I always say when it’s broken that the lads are just borrowing it and I hope this year that this is the case. I am sad to say bye to the old Fireblade; I have a lot of history and good memories with that bike, but testing the new model can’t come soon enough and neither can the race season. I’m excited to have Guy as my new team-mate; we’ve enjoyed many a racing battle over the years and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can both do.”
Guy Martin:
“Neil [Tuxworth] has been talking to me for a while about joining the team, but I had a lot of thinking to do before I committed and said yes. I spent a lot of time on my push bike to and from work, thinking about what to do. I didn’t want to grow old regretting not giving the Honda a go, and the more time passes since making the decision, the more time I’ve thought it is the right decision. Honda is a great team and the Fireblade has always been a weapon on the roads, so with the new bike, I‘m keen to give it a go. We’ve got a busy testing schedule coming up and I’ve put some other stuff off to make time. John [McGuinness] is the man, I’ve got massive respect for him and I’m looking forward to racing on the Fireblade against him.”
Neil Tuxworth:
“We have two new members joining the Honda Racing team this year with Guy signing and the new 2017 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2. John is part of the furniture really, but it’s great to have him back with us for another year – it wouldn’t be the same without him! I really feel with Guy and John, and of course the new Fireblade, that we have a strong team ready to tackle the roads this year. Guy is hungry for his first TT win and John wants another and his lap record back, so this mixed with the new CBR1000RR means we should be in for some exciting racing action. The new Fireblade SP2 is so important to the team and also Honda and it’s vital we continue its legacy at the TT and add more to its 23 wins. We’re all looking forward to testing and I think everyone from the riders and the team are all excited to get on track and put the new machine through its paces.”
Today the internet rumour mill is rife, absolutely rife, with ‘news’ that Guy Martin is set to announce his return to the Isle of Man TT Races this year!
Check out this link to DRIVETRIBE which seems to have started it all.
Here’s the basics though :
Guy Martin may return to the TT in 2017.
He will most likely be riding a new Honda Fireblade.
No team has been announced as yet.
No confirmation of any kind has been made.
It’s a great rumour.
Personally I think Guy is a legend. I’ve seen him race in Northern Ireland many times and would love to see him at the TT. He wants a TT win so much, no matter how many times he hints at being finished I think the TT win may be his nemesis that he desperately wants to conquer. He would be a massive signing for Honda and their Fireblade which has been met with mixed reviews from the public, put Guy Martin on one and it becomes an instant success story.
I’ve read a few different things and I think come Wednesday / Thursday some form of official (as official as Guy does) may appear.
Another well rested and early start this morning and I meet up with the guys at a local pub for a bit of a breakfast fry up…
It’s hard to recommend places on your first visit, simply because you have been to so few but that won’t change the fact that if a place is good – it’s good, and this places was. A nice breakfast down the hatch and it was time to make a move.
The guys I was with were keen to hit the Mountain Road again and get some fast miles under their belt, I however decided to go off the path less travelled and explore the Island a little more.
(There is a path much less travelled element to the ISle of MAn, with hundreds of miles of green lanes all over, and you will see lots of guys on scramblers and enduros coming off the countryside. The path I travelled wasn’t their path although to be fair they looked like they were having an absolutely outstanding adventure!)
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