Cautious reaction by Kerry motorcycle racers as sport set to return after insurance crisis solved

Cautious reaction by Kerry motorcycle racers as sport set to return after insurance crisis solved

Kerry-based motorcycle racers have reacted with caution following the announcement that Motorcycling Ireland has been able to secure an insurance policy for 2024.

The sport was left in limbo last season after the governing body was unable to secure insurance for all branches of the sport.

The last motorcycle race to take place in the Republic of Ireland was in September 2022, the final round of that year’s Dunlop Masters Irish Superbike Championship.

Late last week Motorcycling Ireland confirmed that it has secured insurance for the year ahead and that a calendar of events will be published in due course.

The new insurance deal will come at a cost with competitors likely to be asked to pay more for entry fees and competition licences.

“It is likely that entry fees will double and license fees will go up too, I have no problem with the increase but it depends how will they quantify it. If there were 500 racers in the country before and they based their increase on that, but half of them could be gone so how do they quantify it?” said Superbike racer Emmet O’Grady.

Aside from a handful of Kerry-based riders’ trips to the Ulster Superbike Championship and selected road races in Northern Ireland and the Isle of  Man the vast majority of local racers sat out last season.

“A further statement with details on licensing, start permissions, affiliations, fundraising and other topics will be released in the coming days, and we thank you in advance for your patience in this. We have one chance to get this right, and it needs further discussion to be finalised,” said a statement issued by the board of Motorcycling Ireland.

“This is a positive step for the future of racing, and we will continue to work with all clubs to make sure it is as successful as possible.”

However, it is understood that insurance has only been forthcoming for short circuit races at Mondello Park and off-road events like Moto-cross and trials.

“Mondello is supposed to release a calendar of events, so far there has been nothing, all we are hearing is that the insurance has been solved but so far it is only talk, so I welcome the news, but with a pinch of salt,” added O’Grady,

Road racing in the Republic of Ireland remains in limbo despite last week’s announcement and so far there has been no confirmation if the new insurance covers closed road events too.

“I am delighted that there is some good news and hope that road racing is back this year,” said classic racer Stephen Walsh. “ Road racing is as much a part of the Irish sporting heritage as football or Hurling and it can’t be allowed to die.”