Doubt has been cast over the future of some Irish road races because of the increased cost of insuring their events.

The five national road races within the Ulster Centre – Cookstown, Tandragee, Bush, Armoy and Mid-Antrim – will see their insurance costs rise from £12,315 to £15,770 this season. For the two major international road races the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix a hike of 27 per cent will see their fee rising from £23,810 to a staggering £30,130.

Armoy race organiser Bill Kennedy warned, “I think this will inevitably lead to the demise of national road races with every cost in organising a race rising something will have to give. We had no choice, but to accept this, our backs were against the wall – we tried to get an alternative quote, but that was even more expensive again.”

Why are costs rising? It is understood that the number of of personal injury claims are on the increase, particularly at road races, where spectator claims for falls and minor injuries have rocketed in recent years and several claims are still outstanding sparking fears that this is only the beginning of an upward spiral in insurance costs.

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