MCUI(UC) Press Release – 26th May 2020

MCUI(UC) Press Release – 26th May 2020 :

MCUI(UC) Press Release : Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre)
MCUI(UC) Press Release : Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre)

It appears the to and fro between Ireland’s motorcycle sports governing bodies continues.

On the 19th May 2020 the Cookstown Club announced that they hoped to hold their postponed Cookstown 100 event on 11th and 12th September 2020. This was met with a reasonably mixed reaction from the public. The two sides of the coin were :

a. This is a good thing, if conditions around the current coronavirus issues allow it, it will mean bikes racing in 2020 and will give people something to look forward to after what has been a very disrupted year due to the cover-19 pandemic.

b. This is a bad thing, it will put people at risk and add stress to the NHS. People have accepted that 2020 will have no racing so why try and push this through and risk the public’s health.

Then on 22nd May 2020 The Motorcycling Union of Ireland issued a statement. In which they stated that they were ‘alarmed and annoyed to read that some individual organising clubs within the MCUI (Ulster Centre) are still intending to promote events in this current climate.’ Motorcycle Ireland continued… ‘They do not have the authority or support of the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland to promote these events in 2020.’

Obviously this caused further discontent and controversy over the planned 2020 Cookstown 100 event, with the supporters of points (a) and (b) above becoming more polarised. National newspapers ran with the story bringing the issues surrounding the event and the MCUI to the forefront of public view. Newsletter and Belfast Telegraph.

In the late evening of 26th May 2020 the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) responded with their press release as below.

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2020 Cookstown Races Cause Contention?

2020 Cookstown 100 Provisional Dates
2020 Cookstown 100 Provisional Dates

2020 Cookstown Races Cause Contention?

UPDATE : 26/05/2020 : The MCUI(UC) have issued a statement – read it here.

So far the entire Irish, Northern Irish and Manx Road Racing Season has been completely cancelled, with one exception – the 2020 Cookstown 100.

The Cookstown Club have always said that their 2020 event was postponed, rather than cancelled, and have recently confirmed that they are looking at running the event on 11th and 12 September 2020, however have also stated that it will most likely be a restricted numbers and ticket only event.

This is where the contention arises. From my own reading most people have been positive about it – welcoming the thought of a 2020 event, citing it as something to look forward too after what has been a reasonably horrendous 2020, for many, so far.

Others feel differently, suggesting running the event could put the Health Service under undue stress and pressure and having a gathering of people, or even planning such a gathering with the global and local pandemic still at a very dangerous point is just not wise.

Personally I am still on the fence.

If (supported by science and health advice) the event can be run safely, adhering to any restrictions still imposed by law and more importantly incorporating good common sense and have full medical cover – then why not?

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