Doubt hangs over future of NW200

All motorcycle road racing, short circuit racing and trials in Northern Ireland have been cancelled for 2023, according to BBC Sport NI.

Stephen Watson has reported that following an emergency meeting of the Ulster Centre of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland on Thursday night, the organising clubs deemed it impossible to run events because of soaring insurance charges.

Quoted costs for public liability insurance for 2023 have tripled, amounting to more than £400,000.

Cancelled events include the North West 200 and the Armoy Race of Legends.

The BBC report quoted Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) chairman John Dillon as saying costs were 'unsustainable' for most clubs 'to provide the required public liability cover to run our planned events.'

The news is a massive blow to the north coast with the NW200 and Armoy Road Races two of the area's biggest annual events.

More on this story to follow...