By Belgium pure road racers Laurent Hoffmann and Jean Pierre Polet, have hit a major sticking point in their plans to tackle respectively this year the FonaCab & Nicholl Oils North West 200, Southern 100.
The main reason for this revolves around obtaining start permission from their national two-wheel racing federation, the Belgian Motorcycle Federation.
They are not budging due to the North West 200, Southern 100 not been FIM licenced races. The FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) have removed International race status from the TT Races, Manx Grand Prix, Ulster Grand Prix and aforementioned meets.
Situations like this have also affected in recent times riders from France and Italy, with their national federations taking a similar approach.
Hopefully a productive solution arises for twice IRRC Supersport Champion Hoffmann and fellow countryman Pierre Polet.
It would be a great shame for organisational politics to derive the pair from accomplishing their overseas racing expeditions.
What makes pure road racing such a great sport is it’s sheer freedom, living life to the full outside of politics, noise in the background.
If politics, alternative factors continue to interfere then we will see more stories like this, involving competitors from all backgrounds whether ‘grass roots’, top level Independents, factory supported racers, modern era roads ‘Aliens’.
Breaking Update:
After more paperwork issued, Hoffmann and Pierre Polet have both now successfully obtained start permissions for the NW200 and Southern 100.
Photo credit Rod Neill
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
