Bob
12th March 2010, 01:15
The future of road racing in Northern Ireland has been called into question, in a letter to the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, by the Province’s most senior coroner.
Coroner John Leckey has questioned if road racing is still ‘acceptable’, given the speed of modern bikes and the difficulty of ensuring the safety of spectators. His letter states “It should not be forgotten that whilst many racing teams and their riders are professional with large budgets, the organisers are amateurs, albeit keen enthusiasts. My principal concern, however is how spectator safety can be ensured when spectators are allowed to be positioned so close to the racing.”
A DCAL spokesman said “The department recognises that roadracing is part of the sporting and cultural fabric of Northern Ireland. There is an expectation that event promoters and the governing bodies will take their responsibilities seriously to ensure events are as safe as possible for both spectators and competitors.”
Road racing in Northern Ireland has a long and proud history and events such as the Northwest 200 attract hundreds of thousands of visitors and generate millions of pounds in tourist income to the Province.
Coroner John Leckey has questioned if road racing is still ‘acceptable’, given the speed of modern bikes and the difficulty of ensuring the safety of spectators. His letter states “It should not be forgotten that whilst many racing teams and their riders are professional with large budgets, the organisers are amateurs, albeit keen enthusiasts. My principal concern, however is how spectator safety can be ensured when spectators are allowed to be positioned so close to the racing.”
A DCAL spokesman said “The department recognises that roadracing is part of the sporting and cultural fabric of Northern Ireland. There is an expectation that event promoters and the governing bodies will take their responsibilities seriously to ensure events are as safe as possible for both spectators and competitors.”
Road racing in Northern Ireland has a long and proud history and events such as the Northwest 200 attract hundreds of thousands of visitors and generate millions of pounds in tourist income to the Province.