By Irish road racing 2023 style will feature multiple prestigious meetings but there is once again a glaring omission, the world’s fastest road race, the Ulster Grand Prix.
Despite positive whispers from road racing’s inner circle, the UGP for the fourth successive year won’t take place.
A statement issued by the Dundrod and District Motorcycle Club, reads as follows:
“It is with deep regret that the Dundrod and District Motorcycle Club has been forced to abandon plans to revive the Ulster Grand Prix on August 18-19, 2023.
The club began the initiative with confidence, enjoying the full backing of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and the Ulster Grand Prix Supporters’ Club.
There was encouraging support from teams and riders and we also received strong commitments of financial support from the local business community for which we are extremely grateful.”
The statement continued:
“However, in recent weeks those plans have been undermined by two specific issues.
Despite numerous requests by Dundrod club officials during the last six weeks, we have been totally frustrated in our attempts to gain access to a copy of the public liability insurance policy the Motorcycle Union of Ireland, Ulster Centre, has put in place for 2023.
The Dundrod club was expected to make an initial payment of £26,000 by mid-April.
The finance is in place to make that payment but without sight and consideration of the policy documents, the club’s solicitor has advised this payment should not proceed.
That issue has been further compounded by ongoing uncertainty around funding for the event from Tourism NI. The Dundrod club made application to TNI last December as required.
We are now in April 2023 and there has still been no indication as to whether or not this application will be successful or what level of support the UGP might be eligible to receive.”
Statement courtesy of Stephen Davison
Photo credit: Rod Neill
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
