The debate over the future of motorcycle road racing is a complex one, as the sport has a massive following, and brings a range of economic benefits, but has also been surrounded by a horrific death toll over many years.
Its most high profile event, the Isle of Man TT, has a particularly appalling record, with 265 fatalities since it began just over a century ago and a further six deaths along its notorious mountain course in 2022 alone.
Tragedies have also been commonplace at Irish meetings over the last 50 years, with 22 deaths at the Ulster Grand Prix and a further 14 at the North West 200 during the period.
No family has suffered more than the legendary Dunlops of Co Antrim, with Joey killed in Estonia in 2000, his brother Robert at the North West 200 in 2008 and Robert's son William at the Skerries 100 in 2018
There is no other mainstream sport which presents such shocking risks to its most talented performers, as well as to officials and spectators, and it is completely appropriate that very serious consideration should be given to the overall sustainability of road racing events.
The Motor Cycle Union of Ireland said last week that its entire programme for 2023 had been cancelled because of soaring insurance costs, although a subsequent statement then suggested that a rescue package was being prepared.
It remains to be seen how successful this initiative will be, as it has been acknowledged that public liability insurance premiums, which cover injuries to people and damage to property, were rising sharply because of concerns over the number of claims being registered.
Ambitious plans were released in 2017 for the establishment of a major new racing circuit at the Lake Torrent centre, near Coalisland in Co Tyrone.
The hope was that it would become a base for world class motor cycle and car competitions, as part of a wider project including an hotel, retail units and leisure facilities, but it later went into financial administration and no further progress was made.
There is still the opportunity for a purpose built complex to be developed at Lake Torrent or another location which would allow top motor cyclists to compete before a significant number of spectators in modern and safe surroundings.
It would be much easier to justify public funding for a scheme of this kind rather than any form of investment in the highly dangerous road racing sector.
