Attention turns to 2013 Isle of Man TT after disappointing North West 200
With just five days to go until the start of practising for the 2013 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy fans, riders and teams are beginning to gear up for the greatest show on Earth.
As the VIP Hospitality Suite, Snoozebox hotel and Fanzones go up at Noble’s Park, the TT atmosphere is starting to come to life.
Although most competitors and there racing paraphernalia won’t arrive until later in the week preparations are well underway for the biggest event in the Isle of Man’s calendar.
Amidst the excitement there’ll no doubt be many feeling sympathy for the organisers of the International North West 200.
The event, Northern Ireland’s biggest outdoor sporting competition, is traditionally seen as something of a warm-up for the TT.
Sadly this year racing was curtailed by a deluge which made racing dangerous and forced organisers to call-off most of Saturday’s schedule.
Three races did go ahead on Thursday night and local man Alastair Seeley put on a strong display to leave with two more winner’s trophies on his shelf.
While Seeley dominated the Supersport and Superstock races it was ex-Grand Prix racer Jeremy McWilliams who claimed the Supertwin laurels.
TT stars Michael Dunlop and Bruce Anstey were the bridesmaids in the Supersport and Superstock respectively with rising star James Hillier just 0.86 of a second down on McWilliams in the 650s.
Saturday was shaping up to provide some excellent racing but unfortunately a day of heavy downpours put the dampener things.
The opening Supersport race did start but was red flagged after just two laps with two riders off uninjured. The race was later declared a result with the win going to Michael Dunlop, with Anstey second and the injured Lee Johnston taking third place.
After that the day was one of long delays as organisers sought to salvage something from the disappointing situation only for conditions to continue to deteriorate.
Eventually the organisers were forced to make the unenviable decision to cancel the event – the second time in three years the weather has got the better of them.
Afterwards Race director Mervy Whyte called on the Northern Ireland assembly to create greater flexibility in road closure orders to improve the viability of future events.
(Photo © Gavan Caldwell)