Armoy Races to be aired on Channel 4

This weekend’s Armoy Road Races will be aired on Channel 4 for the second year running, with a one hour highlights programme on Sunday, August 9.

Chairman of the Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club, William Munnis, said,

“This is superb news for the Club and fans alike. It is important that we continue to highlight road racing and would like to thank Channel 4 for broadcasting the Armoy Road Races again. It provides many existing and potential new fans with the chance to view the show on a mainstream, terrestial channel, which the whole of the UK has access to and also through their on-demand services.

“Coverage and television coverage in particular, has become crucial in promoting our sport. In addition to the many fans around the world who can’t make it to Armoy, there are those of us at the race who appreciate reliving the experience and viewing it from a different perspective.

“The Club could not achieve such coverage on their own and this deal could not have been struck without the aid of Tourism Ireland. Without the additional assistance from our sponsors, including title sponsor SGS International, and of course, Tourism Northern Ireland and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, it is easy to say that the whole Bike Week would not take place.

“Events like the Armoy Road Races don’t just happen, they are first of all funded and then capitalised upon. As a result our races are showcased, not just across the United Kingdom, but across the globe – allowing our landscape and our premier sporting event to be seen as one of the best that Northern Ireland has to offer.”

Aubrey Irwin, Tourism Ireland’s Head of Northern Ireland said:

“Tourism Ireland has supported the production of a highlights programme of the Armoy Road Races, which will air on Channel 4 for the second year running. Last year’s programme was seen by thousands of viewers across Great Britain, with wonderful images of the Causeway Coast and Glens area, as well as the exciting racing, shining a spotlight on Northern Ireland.

“Armoy attracts some of the sport’s top riders and this year includes some from Australia, Canada and Mainland Europe, as well as local heroes, the Dunlop brothers, and GB-based Guy Martin and Keith Amor. This highlights programme on Channel 4 is part of Tourism Ireland’s work to leverage the tourism benefits of sporting events to showcase the spectacular scenery of Northern Ireland and encourage potential overseas visitors to come and see it for themselves.”

Clerk of the Course Bill Kennedy stated,

“It was an absolute privilege to work with Channel 4 last year and the team at NPE Media. The coverage was the best yet that we’ve seen to date of the Armoy Road Races.

“Last year’s programme was distributed all over the World and with viewers in South Africa, Australia, the Middle East and North Africa. Our audience is growing along with our races, and I must say a big thank you to all involved!”

Local man, Graham Little and his team at NPE Media will once again be responsible for the production of the programme. A well-known sports presenter who covered road racing during his time at UTV and Sky Sports, he was most recently involved in the production of the BBC’s Moto GP coverage.

He said,