Heavy rain forced Saturday's road race – the biggest event in our sporting calendar – to be abandoned for the second time in three years.

The action was restricted to just two laps of the opening Supersport race, with five accidents and an oil spill ending the big day and leaving riders and fans disappointed.

The North West attracts more than 120,000 spectators, raking in millions of pounds for the area's economy.

Some traders around the Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine circuit say it is their most lucrative period of the year.

Economist John Simpson estimated fans converging on the North West could spend around £100 each on average – potentially leaving traders out of pocket to the tune of several million pounds.

He said the weekend washout was damaging to the event's image.

"The North West 200 attracts a very particular market group, some of whom will plan their summers around the North Coast, Isle of Man and so on," he said.

"If the message gets out that the event is likely to be rained off then fans will perhaps think twice about coming here.

"It has done the North West's reputation no good, and it is through no fault of the organisers.

"It is an expensive weekend for fans and we could lose a market that we want to keep."

Race director Mervyn Whyte said the North West attracted people from across the world.

"The showcase event brings in massive tourism and money to Northern Ireland, with some estimations to be around £9m every year," he said.

Norman Hillis, a trader in Portrush, said the impact of the washout was not as great as some feared.

"All the guesthouses were full, the hotels were full and the bars and restaurants were full," he said.

"For people staying in the area, particularly those coming from across the water, then they have nowhere to go, so you aren't really losing out in that respect.

"The problem is will they come back again next time after two North Wests were called off in three years?"

Another trader, who asked not to be named, said it was a disastrous weekend.

"The North West brings more people into the area than everything else which takes place during the year put together," he said.

"We always see a pick-up in trade around the North West 200 weekend, so for it to be rained off once again is very disheartening."


Adrian Rutherford
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