NI motorcycle road races cancelled due to high insurance costs

All motorcycle road racing in Northern Ireland has been cancelled for 2023 due to the rising cost of insurance.

It includes the North West 200, Northern Ireland's biggest sporting event which draws a large crowd of fans from the Republic of Ireland every year.

Other events due not to take place include the Cookstown 100, the Tandragee 100 and the Ulster Grand Prix, the BBC has reported.

Affiliated clubs met last night and were told public liability insurance costs had tripled.

It meant the governing body had to find £400,000 and faced excess demands of a similar amount in the event of a claim.

Road racing is a tightly regulated but dangerous sport which has seen many fatalities and serious injuries over the years.

Public liability insurance covers injury to people and damage to property.

It is understood efforts are under way to secure insurance for the events on a standalone basis.

The North West in particular is a massive driver of the economy around the towns of Portrush, Coleraine and Portstewart.

It is estimated it contributes around £17m to the local economy and draws a crowd of almost 200,000 across a week of practice and racing.

Philip McCallen is one of the sports most celebrated riders. He said it was time fans were asked to pay to enjoy their sport.

At the moment it is a free event, with huge crowds lining the roadsides as the riders pass by at high speed.