Yesterday's Mid-Antrim road race meeting had to be cancelled after what looked like a sabotage attack with oil being spread extensively on parts of the circuit.

Organiers had to call off the event at lunchtime after the oil was found. Riders did their best to help remove it but falling rain made it impossible to clear and the races were cancelled.

“It’s a great shame when an oil spillage results in the meeting being cancelled and if it was deliberate then that makes it even worse. Accidents and weather can disrupt things and we accept that but this was something totally different and it’s not fair to all those people – riders, organisers, fans – who make the meeting happen," said Ryan Farquhar.

“Practice had gone well for me and I was happy with the performance of the bikes so I was looking forward to a good day’s racing, as was everyone else but a minority denied the whole paddock that opportunity. It was also a great shame for Jamie as he did an absolutely brilliant job.

"It was his first ever outing at a National road race so to be on pole and just half a second off the class lap record was superb so it bodes well for the future. All we can do is put this behind us, hope it never happens again and look forward to Dundrod and the Ulster GP next week.”