Due to a clash with the 2024 BSB Calendar and a Bank Holiday Monday overlap with the 2024 North West 200 the Organisers have announced (via a Social Media post) a change to the upcoming Qualifying Schedule.
The organisers of the 2024 North West 200 will introduce significant changes to the qualifying schedule at this year’s event.
With many of the teams and riders that compete in the NW200 scheduled to race at the Oulton Park British Superbike championship meeting on Saturday-Monday, May 4-6 their arrival in Northern Ireland will be delayed until Tuesday, May 7.
As a result, and after consultation with BSB bosses, the North West 200 organisers will delay the start of this year’s practice and qualifying sessions until Wednesday, May 8.
There will also be a major rejig to the qualifying order at this year’s north coast event.
On Wednesday the traditional opening Newcomer session will now be followed by a one hour long Superbike qualifying session. On Thursday, the Superbikes will be the first machines on track.
The Organisers of the North West 200 have announced the dates of the 2024 Event, as well as some exciting news as to the structure of the event, with the addition of a Superbike Race to the Thursday night schedule.
The organisers of the North West 200 road races are delighted to announce the 2024 race week will take place on May 6-11, with the principal race day on Saturday, May 11.
Following recent consultation with many of the major road race teams, the 2024 programme will see significant changes to the race schedule on both Thursday and Saturday.
A new Superbike race will be added to the Thursday evening programme alongside the now familiar Supersport and Superstock races. This will now provide Thursday visitors with the opportunity to see all of the major teams and riders in action.
As a result of this schedule change, Saturday’s programme will now include two Supertwins races run over four laps while the Supersport, Superstock and both Superbike contests will take place over six laps.
Further updates will be announced during the coming weeks.
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
NW200 Statement over FHO Racing Withdrawal from 2023 Event :
FHO Racing 2023 Livery
As reported here, FHO Racing have withdrawn all entries from the 2023 NW200 Road Races following being disqualified from the Superbike Race on Thursday evening over an issue with the wheels on the BMW Racing M 1000 RR Superstock machine.
In the interests of fairness and completeness it is also important to cover the replying statement from the North West 200.
STATEMENT FROM THE ORGANISERS OF THE fonaCAB AND NICHOLL OILS NORTH WEST 200 :
The technical regulations of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre), under which the fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 is run, state that carbon wheels are not permitted for use at any MCUI road race event.
Those regulations, which are implemented by the MCUI Stewards of the Meeting, were approved by the sport’s governing body in January 2023 and published on the North West 200’s website at that stage.
The FHO Racing BMW team were informed by the MCUI’s Stewards after qualifying on Thursday afternoon that their riders, Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes, would be excluded from the Briggs Equipment Superstock race as their machines were fitted with carbon wheels.
The NW200 organisers were informed of the Steward’s decision, which is final and binding upon the event, at 21.30pm on Thursday night during the final Steward’s meeting.
No such action had been discussed with the NW200 organisers prior to this time despite the machines having been scrutineered on both Tuesday and Thursday morning.
We deeply regret the FHO Racing BMW team’s decision to withdraw from the event tonight as a result of this action, a sentiment we know will be shared by all NW200 race fans.
Peter Hickman was interviewed during the BBC coverage on Saturday’s event and made the point, ‘Just copy the TT’s Regulations.’ On this, I have to agree. Disqualifying a stock bike for running with stock wheels is just a nonsense. It’s a shame that that is how the event ended for FHO.
Hopefully FHO Racing return to the event and hopefully the MCUI take a look at the current regulations and either modernise them or bring them into line with the those of the TT.
FHO Racing have issued a statement regarding their withdrawal from the 2023 North West 200 Road Races.
Hopefully the NW200 issues a statement explaining this decision, as it simply makes no sense that the ‘stock’ bike isn’t ‘stock’ enough.
This is a huge loss to the NW200 event and TBNI.Blog would like to wish every success for this exceptional example of a motorsports team in the future.
11/05/2023 :
The FHO Racing BMW Motorrad team are withdrawing from the 2023 fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 due to no confidence in the application of the Superstock technical regulations.
The Superstock class technical regulations mandate the machines must fully comply with conditions regarding the wheels, where Superstock machines must remain with the originally homologated wheels from the manufacturer, which from BMW are carbon. It then goes on to prohibit carbon material, however aftermarket wheels are also not allowed and no mandated alternative specification is prescribed.
The FHO Racing BMW M 1000 RR machines passed scrutineering on Tuesday (9 May) and were allowed to take part in all qualifying sessions before being informed they were not allowed to race moments before the Briggs Equipment Superstock race this evening.
Having taking this issue out with the fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 organisers, there is no confidence that the FHO Racing riders could take part in a race with the obvious dangers, and risks that road racing prevents and then the performance protested or disqualified on a technicality that is not adequately explained.
The FHO Racing team have checked the 2023 technical regulations against those of 2022 and the regulations remain the same, where the team raced the carbon homologated wheels in both Superstock races, as well as the event in 2019.
The effort commitment and logistics required to compete in the North West 200 are significant and this lack of confidence in the organisation renders the team’s participation in this year’s event impossible.
The FHO Racing team would like to sincerely apologise to all its sponsors and fans, and the team are now looking forward to getting back out on the roads in a few weeks time at the Isle of Man TT Races.
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
The 2023 North West 200 Race Week runs from 6th – 13th May 2023 and the events schedule has been released.
The week will pack 2 practice sessions (Tuesday and Thursday) and 2 race sessions (Thursday evening and Saturday) into a week filled with other activities.
Along with the official scheduled events as below the local towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine will have bars and venues full of fun things for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
The 2023 North West 200 ticket prices have been announced for the official viewing points, paddock passes, programmes and grandstands and are now available to buy online.
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
The road closure times and race schedule for the 2022 North West 200 have been announced.
Remember road closures will happen at these times sharply – and if you miss them, you miss them. When the road closure happens the road legally becomes a race circuit. You will not have the right to travel on it, or use as usual. So be on time to save any disappointment.
The race times are approximate. Racing is fluid, incidents and delays happen and in road racing are very likely, so don’t base anything on the race times being accurate, but they will give you an approximate idea of how things will ideally run.
Tuesday 10th May – Practice Schedule (9.15am to 3.15pm)
Session
Bike Class
(Times are approx)
1st Session
Newcomers Only
09.45
2nd Session
Supersport
10.30
3rd Session
Superbike
11.30
4th Session
Supertwin
12.30
5th Session
Superstock
13.30
2022 North West 200 Practice Schedule 10/05/2022
Thursday 12th May – Practice Schedule (9:15am to 3.15pm)
Session
Bike Class
(Times are approx)
1st Session
Supertwin
09.45
2nd Session
Superbike
10.45
3rd Session
Superstock
11.45
4th Session
Supersport
12.45
2022 North West 200 Practice Schedule 12/05/2022
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR 2022 ROAD CLOSING
The Road Races (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 has now been approved by the Northern Ireland Assembly and received Royal Assent. The changes to the road closing legislation now give the organisers of the International North West 200, in exceptional circumstances, the ability to move a practice or race day, either one day forward or one day back, giving 24 hours notice to the Department for Infrastructure.
Should extreme weather be forecast, the 2022 contingency days could be: Wednesday 11th May and Friday 13th May 2022.
In lieu of using one of the above full contingency days, organisers may also extend the road closing times on Tuesday 10th and Saturday 14th May 2022 as follows:
Existing Road Closing
Contingency
Tuesday
9.15am – 3.15pm
5.00pm – 9.00pm
Saturday
9.15am – 7.00pm
7.00pm – 9.00pm
2022 North West 200 Additional Contingency Timings
All those who could be affected are reminded that any variation in race or practice schedule will only happen due to extreme weather conditions. Ticket holders and those attending all race week events are advised to keep up to date with any changes announced.
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
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