No Tandragee, but return to Aghadowey on cards?

THE Tandragee 100 will not take place this year.

In a short statement issued at the end of last week, the North Armagh club, organisers of the Tandragee, said that the reason was "due to the current economic climate and circumstances beyone our control".

I understand, at the minute, the club intend to run the meeting again in 2011. The Tandragee had been planned this year for its traditional first Saturday in May date, but obviously this has gone by the board.

The statement comes just two weeks after the inquest on Ardglass man John Donnan, who was killed at the controversial chicane at the start finish area in 2007. A year later Lusk man Martin Finnegan died at Marlacoo after a high speed crash.

From what In understand, there are a number of issues with the track, and this, as well as the fact that the road has deteriorated over recent months, leaves the club with little alternative but to cancel. The money simply isn't there to upgrade the track.

Hopefully the meeting will return in 2011, as planned. It had its 50th anniversary, albeit low key, in 2008. Tandragee was always one of my own favourite meetings, and it would be a shame to see it dissappear into oblivion the same way the Temple and Carrowdore have.

AGHADOWEY RETURN?

Hot on the heels of the news that we have lost Tandragee this year, I understand that the short circuit at Aghadowey, near Kilrea, is set to return to use for bikes.

Three or fours years ago, the circuit fell into disrepair after the owner decided to let the circuit out to car clubs.

Previously, bike clubs like the MCRRC and the Mid Antrim club spent thousands of pounds on the place, and while it wasnt everyones idea of the ideal venue to race 200 bhp bikes, it was better than nothing, which is what we were left with.

Now, according to one of the websites, the owners of Aghadowey want the bikes back again. They seem, at the minute, to be prepared to carry out such work as to ensure that the MCUI give them a track certiftcate. Apparently, the stock car track will be upgraded first, and then the bike circuit extended and improved.

It remains to be seen if it will ever come to anything, but hopefully it looks like a return is on the cards maybe next year.

As things stand at the minute, we have just two tracks in the Ulster Centre, Bishopscourt and Kirkistown, where bikes can be raced. Nutts Corner was to be re instated, but sadly that came to nothing after the MCUI decided that it didn't come up to spec. Oh, to be a lottery winner!

MONDELLO ANGER

The short circuit committee of MCI (Motorcycling Ireland) have decided to run no ISB rounds or Irish Clubmans race meetings at Mondello in 2010. Instead they are to organise their own single circuit championship.

This has caused anger in many circles here, with talks of boycotts etc.

From what I can gather, the championship will run on two configurations of Mondello, and will be over six rounds. I understand that both the Clubmens and national graded riders will practice together, with the fastest going through to race. The rest go in a B graded race. Where the time is going to come from, I’m not sure.

The Mondello team have worked out the between 1.30pm and 3.30pm are the prime attendance time for spectators, and so the SBK, SS600, Sidecar and 2 stroke races will be held then. Everything else, like Pre97, Lightweight Supersport, 125 Production and Supertwins will be designated as support races, and will be held on either side of these times.

In the 125 Production races, free entires will be given to riders who are under 16 on the day of the event.

Grid interviews, tried before and found to be a total waste of time, are to be brought back, and podium presentations are to be performed after all the big races. I honestly don’t know the thinking behind this.

It seems to be the general consensus with riders that Mondello wasn’t making enough money out of bike meetings, and they see this as a way of bolstering their earnings. The now free weekends are to be used for track days and such, where more money can be generated.

The first round is to be held at the April date, 10/11th, and further rounds in May, July, August, September and the final at the Masters in October.

THIS WEEKEND

The first of the MCUI Training Days is this Sunday at Kirkistown.

I have no information as to start times etc. The one that was planned for the 14th has been cancelled, as they wouldn’t give the MCUI the track on that day. The final one will be on the 21st.

As I sit and look out at the snow, I know where it is that looks the most inviting.

I will be unable to attend Kirkistown this weekend as I will be at the Irish Indoor Athletics Championship at the Odyssey.

Now that’s a sport that is well promoted. The governing body run a website that is updated within hours of the finish of all race meets. At Greenmount last weekend the race results were posted less than 10 minutes after the finish of every race.

Next week, also, I will have a preveiw of the Kings Hall Motorcycle show, and a wee bit on Corran Smyth, who has picked up extended backing from GS Motorcycles for his 2010 campaign.

Roy Adams