A series of leading motorcycle events in Northern Ireland are in danger of losing significant financial backing from one of the sport’s biggest sponsors.

Belfast-based Adelaide Insurance Services has threatened to withdraw its backing of the Enkalon Trophy short circuit meeting and the Adelaide Masters round at Bishopscourt this season due to the fall-out over plans by the MCUI to levy a £60 press accreditation fee on photographers covering motorcycle events in Ulster.

Company director Sam Geddis also conceded that the annual Adelaide-backed gala motorcycle awards ceremony and bike festival at the King’s Hall in Belfast – held in January and February respectively – could also suffer in 2013 unless the situation is resolved.

Mr Geddis is concerned that his firm could miss out on valuable publicity as a result of a backlash over the fee from photographers and media organisations.

Newtownards Chronicle editor and motorcycle writer John Savage has issued a statement vowing to boycott pre-event publicity for motorcycle events in Northern Ireland in protest over the ruling.

The contentious decision was agreed initially by the MCUI as a whole at the inter-centre conference following a motion by the Road Racing Commission, which was proposed by Sean Bissett of the sport’s ruling body in the Irish Republic, Motorcycling Ireland.

It is understood the fee, which has increased six-fold compared to 2011, is aimed at reducing the growing number of photographers receiving accreditation whose pictures are published on a minimal scale.

Motorcycling Ireland has now agreed to scrap the controversial charge, but there has been no about-turn by the Ulster Centre.

Last night, Geddis told News Letter Sport he would reluctantly withdraw sponsorship of the Enkalon meeting in April and the Adelaide Masters race at Bishopscourt in the summer unless there was a compromise.

“It’s already been pointed out to me that this is only the stance of one newspaper editor, but from a sponsor’s point of view we feel that more editors could follow suit.

“We depend on publicity in all the newspapers – we measure that and based on the coverage we receive that is why we invest money into the sport. They (MCUI) need sponsorship and publicity for their events, so it’s beyond me how they can charge photographers this fee to cover motorcycling events.

“The events this will hurt straightaway will be the Enkalon event in April and the Adelaide Masters round at Bishopscourt, but why would we bring the Masters series north when we can’t be guaranteed publicity from all sources?

“We have to justify every pound we spend and if cannot see a return then we have no choice but to pull the plug. We are not minded to do this because we have been supporters of motorcycling, but the Ulster Centre must put themselves in our position.

“If the newspaper editors decide not to give publicity to events because of this decision, then what choice have we in the matter.

“We will also have to reconsider our involvement in the Adelaide Motorcycle Awards and the Adelaide Motorcycle Festival next year unless this is resolved.”

Ards Chronicle editor Savage said he regretted the situation but added that he is determined to stand by his decision not to carry pre-event publicity of motorcycle events in Northern Ireland in the publication while plans for the £60 fee remain in place.

“We will not be attending any media conferences, or publishing any press releases or images from media conferences. It is our intention to continue our in-depth coverage of motorcycle sport. However, we will not be making any reference to event or championship sponsors in our reports.

“We sincerely regret this situation, but...to do otherwise would compromise journalistic integrity, as no other sport in Ireland charges accredited press personnel for facilitating coverage.”

Davy Weir, chairman of the Enkalon Club, said he felt the Ulster Centre should do all in their power to retain the backing of Adelaide Insurance.

“We have little enough money going into motorcycle sport in this country and I think everything should be done to keep sponsors on board and keep them happy,” he said.

Adelaide Insurance Services is also the title sponsor of the popular Kells road races in Co Meath.


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