Traffic and Travel Information

Practice Sessions: Tuesday 17 & Thursday 19 May 2011

The police are advising motorists, and residents fronting onto circuit roads in the Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart areas that practice sessions for the International North-West 200 motorcycle races are to take place on Tuesday 17th and Thursday 19th May. Circuit roads will be closed from 17.00 – 21.30 hours on Tuesday 19th May and 9.30 – 15.00 hours on Thursday 19th May.

Motorists attending the practice sessions are urged to make full use of official car parks, and must not park where their vehicle will cause an obstruction to public or private entrances, and in particular, to designated ambulance routes that are signposted, and which must be kept clear at all times.

Drivers are also asked to comply with the directions of police officers on point duty before and after the races.


Race Day: Saturday 21 May 2011

The police are advising motorists travelling to the International North West 200 motorcycle races to get there early, as circuit roads will close from 10.00 – 19.00 hours on Saturday 21st May.

Motorists attending the races are urged to make full use of official car parks and must not park where their vehicle will cause an obstruction to public or private entrances, and in particular, to designated ambulance routes that are signposted, and which must be kept clear at all times. Drivers are also asked to comply with the directions of police officers on point duty before and after the races.

Motorists should expect delays on all roads leading to and from the circuit and should make appropriate allowances in order to complete their journey safely.

Bikesafe

The ride-outs will be held at the start/finish area of the North West 200 motorcycle races situated on the coast road between Portrush and Portstewart from Tuesday 17 until Friday 19 May. Assessment slots can be booked on-line at www.bikesafe.co.uk.

Bikesafe paddock opening times will be:

Tuesday 17 May 10.00am to 5.00pm
Wednesday 18 May 9.30am to 6.00pm
Thursday 19 May 3.00pm to 9.00pm
Friday 20 May 9.30am to 9.00pm

There is £10 administration fee, payable on-line, for the Bikesafe ride-outs and they are operated on a first come first served basis. Motorcyclists are provided with a unique opportunity to have their riding and road craft assessed by an advanced police motorcyclist. During the ride-out, the advanced police motorcyclist assesses machine knowledge, hazard awareness, junctions, cornering, overtaking and security. The assessment is not a test, nor is it training, it provides advice and an assessment of a rider’s capabilities, and it is open to all, from the complete novice to the experienced motorcyclist.

STAY ALIVE - ‘BIKESAFE’.

For further information on the Bikesafe initiative go to www.bikesafe.co.uk.

Travelling to the NW200 – do it safely, urge police

Police are urging motorcyclists travelling to and from the North West 200 to use all their road craft to stay safe and stay alive on roads across Northern Ireland.

Motorists can expect increased number of traffic patrols on our roads across the North Coast area during race week, with the aim of ensuring the safety of all road users.

Inspector John Millar, Road Policing officer, explains:

“In recent years a number of people lost their lives while either travelling to or from this sporting spectacular, or to one of the many events that take place throughout race week. This is something that all bikers need to take note of, and is why road safety has got to be everyone’s number one priority.

“It is very easy to get caught up in all the excitement that the races bring, and it is this excitement, and the anticipation of seeing professional racers do their thing on closed roads that supporters and enthusiasts need to suppress if they want to stay alive when travelling on open roads. Do not try to emulate any of the riders taking part in the North West 200 as it is simply not feasible or safe to do so.

“Don’t think that you can get away with just driving safely on roads around the race circuit. You must drive safely at all times whether you are en-route to the North coast from Armagh, Ballymena, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Derry, Enniskillen, Limavady, Portaferry, Newry, or indeed anywhere else in Ireland.

“I would also remind motorists that there will be more motorcycles out and about during race week, and that they need to be more alert to the presence of bikes on the roads, and particularly at junctions...

THINK BIKE

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“Motorcyclists have a major role to play when it comes to road safety. Use dipped headlights day and night, and consider sounding your horn to alert others to your presence as necessary. Ride responsibly and don’t take foolish chances. You only get one life; make sure it doesn’t come to an untimely end…BIKESAFE and STAY ALIVE,” concluded Inspector Millar.

Meet the NW200 Stars at Coleraine Town Hall

Coleraine Borough – Home of the North West 200 is hosting a special Meet the Relentless International North West 200 stars on Wednesday 18th May from 10am until 1pm outside Coleraine’s Town Hall. Fans and visitors will be able to meet and chat to famous names such as MSS Colchester’s Stuart Easton and Gary Mason, Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing duo Alastair Seeley and Guy Martin, Dunlop brothers William and Michael as well as NW200 veteran Michael Rutter and team mate Martin Jessopp who both ride for Riders Bathams Ducati.

The star riders will be on hand with bikes to sign autographs, give out posters and discuss their hopes and aspirations for Relentless North West 200 Race Day on Saturday 21st May. High profile sports presenter and journalist Adrian Logan will be the North West 200 host for the event which forms part of North West 200’s annual Race Week Festival. Visit www.northwest200.org for up to date details on all NW200 events, practice sessions and Race Day programme.

Road Racing Ireland Celebrates it's 25th Anniversary issue

The World’s longest running race magazine, Road Racing Ireland, has now reached 25 years of publishing and is celebrating this with the launch of their 112 page May Issue. Packed with all the latest photographs and stories from the teams and riders, Road Racing Ireland has consistently remained Ireland’s top Road Racing publication.

The Magazine, which was launched in May 1986 by Wallace and Mervyn Rollins, as a local publication, is now read worldwide. The publishers, Wallace and Gillian Rollins pictured here with editor Leslie Moore and top riders William and Michael Dunlop holding the first front cover of RRI 25 years ago which adorned a superb photograph of their uncle Joey Dunlop.

BBC NI gears up for NW200 2011

BBC Sport NI is gearing up for our coverage of this year’s North West 200 International road races. 2011 is the second year of our five year contract which sees the event broadcast across the BBC until 2014.

Celebrating its 82nd anniversary this year, the NW200 has attracted motorsport fans from all over the world with upwards of 100,000 people witnessing the thrills of road racing on the nine miles of public roads.

This year BBC Sport NI will continue to provide fans with enhanced coverage throughout the week-long festival across BBC TV, radio and online. As well as the live and highlights action, there will be reports and special features from behind-the-scenes including interviews and profiles of the riders, the fans and the people who make it one of the sport’s biggest attractions.

A new feature for this year is that the North West online coverage will be provided via the BBC Sport NI homepage, rather than via a dedicated and separate NW 200 site.

Shane Glynn, Editor BBC Sport NI said:

“The dedicated North West 200 site worked very well, providing our audience with fantastic added value content, as well as hosting the live practice and race day action. This site will remain to host the vast wealth of archive material we’ve gathered. But the special features, latest news and all the live action will from this year be coming direct from our BBC Sport NI web page, which should make the North West coverage feel more an integrated part of our wider sport portfolio, rather than a separate event. On average during 2011, the BBC Sport Northern Ireland website attracted over 193,000 UK unique users per week. When we secured the rights to the North West 200, we pledged to provide fans with the most innovative, creative and in depth coverage of the races and the week leading up to them, and we aim to continue to build on the success of our coverage thus far.”

Coverage of the NW 200 festival on TV will include a preview programme and two special highlights programmes presented by Stephen Watson and Phillip McAllen featuring all the action from the racing and behind the scenes features on the top teams and riders and coverage from 24 trackside cameras, aerial camera and on-bike cameras.

BBC Radio Ulster’s Summer Club will come live from the event on race day, with coverage of all the races. There will also be a Friday night preview programme on Radio Ulster medium wave.

Both practice sessions will be live online, and all the races on the Saturday will also be available live online, while two of them will be available live via the red button service for digital viewers.

Technical Director Mervyn Whyte MBE said,

“We‘ve had a fantastic partnership with BBC NI over many years and each year the whole production and presentation team add new and creative dimensions to BBC’s range of NW200 programmes. The end result is high calibre and hugely exciting television, radio and online coverage which reaches millions of people worldwide. Everyone involved in the North West 200 would like to thank all the team at BBC for their hard work and professionalism.”

BBC Sport Northern Ireland’s Ceefax service will also provide the latest news and information during the NW 200 festival week.

Ian Hutchinson is ruled out of North West 200 races

Ian Hutchinson has been ruled out of the North West 200 after failing to recover from serious leg injuries in time to take his place on the grid.

Hutchinson saw a specialist on Tuesday.

The Yorkshire rider will not have the cage removed from his leg for another couple of weeks as his recovery has been slower than expected.

"We are disappointed that Ian will not be riding but safety obviously comes first," said North West Technical Director Mervyn Whyte.

The Bingley racer will attend next week's event in an ambassadorial role.

The Swan Yamaha racer is continuing his rehabilitation from serious leg injuries sustained at Silverstone last September.

The Bingley man had planned to return to action at this weekend's British Championship round at Croft.

Hutchinson has two North West victories to his name, including one in last year's Supersport 600 race two.

He has also won eight Isle of Man TT Races.

Charity screenings of classic BBC road racing documentary Between the Hedges

Charity screenings of the documentary Between the Hedges next Thursday, 19th May, at the Movie House, Jet Centre in Coleraine are being organised as a tribute to Robert Dunlop. Proceeds from the screenings are being donated to the Children’s Hospice, a charity very close to the late Robert’s heart.

Between the Hedges was made in 1992, when Director Michael Hewitt and Producer Dermot Lavery of Belfast company DoubleBand Films set out to make a documentary for BBC NI that would explore the compelling world of road racing in Northern Ireland.

The documentary focuses on the experiences of three riders - the legendary Robert Dunlop, Brian Gardiner and Gary Walker - and earned great praise when it was shown on the BBC. But now a re-mastered version of the film is being screened at this special charity event and also released on DVD - complete with new and unseen material – to coincide with this year’s North West 200.

“We are delighted to be showing this film again to honour Robert,“ says director Michael Hewitt. “It’s a documentary that gets under the skin of this incredible sport to discover what drives racers like Robert. Considering this is the first year at the NW200 at which there will be no two-stroke bikes – such as the ones Robert raced – we think the film also captures a remarkable moment in time.”

“We believe fans will really enjoy the chance to see the previously unseen new material that has been included on the DVD. These include interviews with Robert Dunlop and fascinating footage of him and his brother Joey together at the NW200 paddock in 1992,” added Michael.

The charity screenings, which are followed by Q and A, are being sponsored by the Movie House Jet Centre, Coleraine and will take place at 6.00 & 7.30pm on Thursday, 19th May. Tickets are available at the NW200 main ticket office and all proceeds from these screenings go to the Children’s Hospice in honour of Robert Dunlop.

BBC NI to enhance North West 200 online coverage

BBC Sport NI will enhance its online coverage of the North West 200 international road races in 2011.

Coverage of this year's event will be accessed from the BBC Sport NI website, with a special new North West 200 section and a permanent bikes presence.

On raceday a live stream of the races will be the top story on the NI section and will also be available on the national homepage of the site.

A live statistics service will also be provided to complement the coverage.

Throughout the week users can enjoy special video content produced by Greenlight Television, written features and photo galleries, as well as all the latest news from the practices and races.

All five races will be streamed live on Saturday 21 May, with two of the events broadcast on television via the red button.

Television coverage will include regular reports on BBC Newsline, a Friday night preview programme on BBC One and highlights programmes on Sunday and Monday evenings.

A special programme on the history of the North West 200, named 'How the North West Was Won' is also planned for race week.

Radio coverage will include live commentary on the practice session on Thursday 19 May and all the races live on Saturday.

There will also be a Friday night preview programme from the paddock on Friday night.

The Museum For Bikers!

This year’s annual motorcycle exhibition has opened at Ballymoney Museum with crowds already packing the gallery. The exhibition, called “North West Frontier”, celebrates the heroes who have made the North West 200 and Irish road racing such an exciting and popular sport. On display are trophies, leathers, helmets, memorabilia and bikes, with classic photos of riders from the past and present.

The three bikes on display are the favourite exhibits of many visitors and were ridden by Ballymoney men - a 2002 ‘Red Bull’ Honda 600cc of Adrian Archibald, a 1978 TZ250E Yamaha of Joey Dunlop and the 125cc Honda that took Paul Robinson to his historic win at last year’s North West 200.

The original North West 200 trophies from 1929-1958 have been kindly lent for display by the North of Ireland Motor Club and fans of Robert Dunlop are able to see his leathers, helmet and several famous trophies, on loan from his family. Other riders who feature in the display are Malcolm McQuigg, winner of the first NW200 250cc race in 1929; Richard Creith, the dynamic Bushmills rider who won the 500cc at the Ulster Grand Prix and NW200 in 1965 before retiring at the peak of his career; the legendary Dromara Destroyers; the Armoy Armada, including the helmet, leathers and trophy of Mervyn Robinson, the helmet of Jim Dunlop and a tribute to the greatest of them all, Joey Dunlop.

Creith, Ireland & McCosh on camera

Visitors also have the opportunity to see a unique interview film from December 2009 of Richard Creith, Len Ireland and Billy McCosh in which they remember their days racing each other on the local roads. As an added bonus, Ballymoney Museum has released extra footage from the interviews on the internet at www.youtube.com/user/BallymoneyMuseum and bike fans across the world can now watch these Ulster icons as they share the enjoyment, danger and excitement of road racing over 40 years ago.

The exhibition “North West Frontier” is on display until 27 August at Ballymoney Museum, Ballymoney Town Hall, Townhead Street, admission is free and opening hours are Monday-Thursday & Saturday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4.30pm. The museum will have special opening on Sunday 22 May, 1pm-5pm. Also on display at Ballymoney Town Hall until 14 July is “Ulster’s Sporting Heroes: Ulster Sports Museum Exhibition”. For further information on both exhibitions contact (028) 2766 0230 web: www.visitballymoney.com.

Ryan Farquhar suffers superbike blow for North West 200

Ryan Farquhar will be forced to ride a superstock machine in Saturday's Superbike races at the North West 200.

The Dungannon rider will not get his superbike until Wednesday, too late for Farquhar to get it ready for practice.

"I'll have it on Wednesday - the last practice is early on Thursday and it doesn't give me enough time to get the bike finished.

"Unfortunately this year I'm not going to have the superbike so I'll just have to do with the superstock."

He added: "If the weather forecast is correct then the superstock will be plenty enough.

"But we'll give it our best shot and see how it goes."

Tuesday practice -Roads close from 1700 BST until 2115 BST

Thursday practice - Roads close from 0930 BST until 1500 BST

Saturday 21 May - Race order - Roads close 1000 BST

Superbike race one - 6 laps

Supersport race one - 6 laps

Superstock race - 6 laps

Supersport race two - 6 laps

Superbike race two - 6 laps

Bike Stars Past and Present set to ‘Guest Lap’ on Relentless North West 200 Race Day

World and British Superbike stars Eugene, Michael and John Laverty will take a break from the professional race scene and guest lap at the Relentless International North West 200 on May 21st as organisers Coleraine & District Motor Club’s aim to create a bumper Race Day programme for fans and visitors to the North Coast region. This is a first for both the Laverty brothers and the NW200 and the trio from Toomebridge will ride in unison round the 8.9 mile circuit on board BMW and Yamaha machines in between races.

“We’re delighted that the boys took up our offer to undertake a parade lap and add a little cutting edge glamour to the North West this year. Their father Mickey Laverty competed in the NW200 during the 1970s and it’s wonderful that Mickey and his wife Sheelagh will be on hand to watch Eugene, John and Michael demonstrate their skills and technical ability round our circuit.” said Mervyn Whyte MBE, technical director.

Eugene recently scored an amazing double 1st victory on the Yamaha YZF-R1 at the World Superbike race at Monza gaining him 85 points in the championship standings and fifth place overall. Following recent testing in Aragon, Spain, Eugene will be heading off to Salt Lake City, USA for the next round at Miller Motorsports Park on 30th May.

Eugene’s older brother Michael and John are currently going head to head in the MCE Insurance British Superbikes Championship with John recovering from a finger injury but was able to compete at Croft for his team, Buildbase BMW Motorrad taking his first points of the season with 13th position. Riding this year for the Swan Yamaha team, oldest sibling Michael is currently lying 11th in the MCE BSB standings with 35 points following a difficult week-end at Croft.

Whilst the Laverty brothers represent high tech modern day machinery and racing techniques, event organisers are also harking back to the golden age of Irish road racing with parade laps by the Dromara Destroyers Ray McCullough, Brian Reid and Trevor Steele whose fame rivalled the Armoy Armada during the 1960’s and 70’s. Also participating in special VIP laps courtesy of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club (Northern Counties section) are former world champions ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer, Ralph Bryans and Jim Redman.

Jim Redman MBE clinched 6 world championships in just four years (1962 to 1965) and became the first rider to win three Grand Prix’s during one day. Jim also had a hat-trick of doubles at the I.O.M TT clinching both the 250cc and the 350cc races in 1963, 64 and 1965. Ireland’s most successful GP rider and only Grand Prix world champion Ralph Bryans, originally from Belfast but now living in Scotland, made his NW200 debut in 1962 and chalked up three wins, a second and a third at the North West between 1962 and 1970. Bryans was a member of the famous Works Honda Team alongside Jim Redman, Luigi Tavari and Mike Hailwood who between them took all five Manufacturer’s world titles in 1966.

Nicknamed ‘Fast Freddie’ Spencer gave Honda their first GP championship title on a 500cc two stroke machine becoming the youngest rider to with this class. Regarded as one of the greatest motorcycle competitors of the early 1980’s he was installed as an FIM Grand Prix Legend in 2001. During an illustrious Grand Prix career Spence chalked up 27 wins and a total of 39 podium positions.

Star legends Spencer, Bryans and Redman will be on hand in the Relentless North West 200 Paddock area on Friday May 20th during the afternoon as well as on Race Day to give fans and visitors the chance to get autographs and meet the stars. The V.J.M.C. will also host a special Chat Show in the evening of 20th May in the Magherabuoy House Hotel when the legends will look back on their racing careers and a range of Yamaha and Honda bikes will be on display similar to those used by Bryans and Redman in the 1960s.

Dromara Destroyer member Ray McCullough was renowned for his neat yet very quick style and technique and during three decades won trophies at every Irish circuit. Apart from occasional outings at Oulton Park in Cheshire and his annual trip to the Isle of Man Southern 100 each July Ray McCullough restricted his racing to Ireland. Backed by Mick Mooney’s Irish Racing Motorcycles for most of his career McCullough mostly competed on Yamaha machinery. Ray picked up 7 podium places at the North West 200 during the 60’s and 70’s including three firsts, one second and three third positions.

Fellow ‘Destroyer’ Brian Reid first raced in 1976 at St Angelo, Enniskillen and competed in Ireland and throughout the world throughout the 1970s, 80s and early 90’s. A former double world champion in the mid-80’s Brian won a North West 600cc trophy in 1989 and also has 5 TT and 9 Ulster GP wins under his belt. Reid also chalked up 68 Irish National Road Race wins from 1979 until 1989, 9 Irish Short Circuit Championship firsts and 4 Isle of Man National Road Race trophy wins.

Completing the Dromara trio is Trevor Steele picked up top trophies at the Mid-Antrim in the 250cc and 350cc classes, at the Ulster Grand Prix (350cc) and a 350cc win at the Southern 100.

Michael Rutter targets North West 200 Superbike record

Michael Rutter will aim to become the most successful Superbike rider in the history of the North West 200 when he lines up for the showpiece events of this year's meeting on Saturday.

Rutter and the late Joey Dunlop have both won nine races in the class.

But the Midlands rider will have high hopes of adding to his tally after securing pole position on Thursday.

Rutter's team-mate Martin Jessopp was second fastest in qualifying to make it a good day for the Ducati team.

"It's good to be on pole and I'm happy with the big bike," said Rutter.

"But the forecast isn't good for Saturday and I'm not a fan of racing on the roads when it's wet - it's a different proposition from short circuit racing."

The 38-year-old has 12 wins and 21 podium finishes under his belt at the North West and just one victory would see him join Joey Dunlop on 13 wins in all classes.

A hat-trick of successes would enable him to equal Robert Dunlop's all-time record of 15.

Rutter will face stiff competition from in-form Carrickfergus rider Alastair Seeley, whose efforts in the Superbike class were plagued by mechanical problems on Thursday.

Seeley and Relentless TAS Suzuki running mate Guy Martin should be well in the running, along with Australian Cameron Donald and Gary Johnson on their Honda machinery.

Michael Dunlop has encountered difficulties with his new Kawasaki Superbike but recorded a speed of over 120mph on his Superstock machine so he will be in contention too.

Bruce Anstey, William Dunlop, Ryan Farquhar, Ian Lougher and newcomer Simon Andrews also performed well in qualifying.

If the forecast rain appears, wet weather specialist Farquhar could well take advantage of the inclement conditions to add to his tally of four wins on the Triangle circuit.

Seeley set the benchmark in the Superstock and Supersport classes in practice and looks likely to be the man to beat in those races.
Alistair Seeley is on pole for the Supersport and Superstock races

Prior to the meeting he was tipped to equal Phillip McCallen's recrd of five wins in one day but that looks to be a tall order for the pint-sized pilot.

Michael Dunlop will be determined to make up for a disappointing North West last year and will be a major threat on his Street Sweep Superstock Kawasaki and Supersport Yamaha.

Rutter should be on the pace in the Superstocks but will sit out the two Supersport races, a move which could prove to give him an edge over his rivals during a stamina- sapping race day.

William Dunlop was downbeat about his chances when interviewed on BBC Radio Ulster on Thursday but the 26-year-old Ballymoney man could spring a surprise on a circuit on which he has previously enjoyed significant successes in the two-stroke classes.

Englishman Johnson is still seeking his first intenational road race win but good form in practice would indicate that the Lincolnshire lad is ready to move to the top step of the podium this week.

Johnson has now fully recovered from injuries sustained at the Skerries 100 in 2009 and has put in some good early-season displays in the British championship.

As always, the Antipodean challenge will come from Donald and Anstey, and both are capable of winning.

Anstey has occupied the podium on at least one occasion every year since 2002 and that sequence is likely to continue on Saturday if he can fully adapt to the change from Suzuki machinery to his new Padgett's Honda stable.

Donald has also switched teams this season and is on the top six practice leaderboard for every class on his Wilson Craig Hondas.Michael Rutter will aim to become the most successful Superbike rider in the history of the North West 200 when he lines up for the showpiece events of this year's meeting on Saturday.



Superstock standings: 1 A Seeley 119.706, 2 M Dunlop 119.328, 3 M Rutter 118.039, 4 Gary Johnson 117.993, 5 William Dunlop 117.247, 6 Ryan Farquhar 117.241

Supersport standings: 1 A Seeley 115.937, 2 G Johnson 115, 3 M Dunlop 115.149, 4 B Anstey 114.649, 5 W Dunlop 114.417, 6 G Martin 113.812

Superbike standings: 1 M Rutter 121.24, 2 Martin Jessopp 120.98, 3 M Dunlop 120.79, 4 Guy Martin 120.00, 5 C Donald 119.94, 6 Gary Johnson 119.41