7 replies to this topic

[Ben1445]

This is not a news story I was expecting to be reading about in the year 2020...

The Isle of Wight is set to welcome motorcycle road racing for the first time in 2021 with the all-new Diamond Races.

The Diamond Races will take place on a 12.4-mile circuit on the south of the Isle of Wight, with the course incorporating a five-mile blast along the coastal military road.

[...]

For the inaugural event, the Superbike, Supersport and Lightweight class of machinery will be raced, with demonstrations for sidecars and electric bikes planned.
 
 
( https://www.autospor...ounced-for-2021 )

Edited by Ben1445, 29 July 2020 - 16:17.

[cpbell]

I actually checked to make sure it wasn't April 1st when I read this earlier today.    Can't see local residents accepting it, sadly.

[Risil]

Interesting. It's scheduled for October, out of the main tourist season, but I suppose even on the south coast of England you'd have to worry about the weather.

 

With road circuits there's a sweet spot between taking place right in the middle of things, where there are lots of potential objectors, and taking place in the middle of nowhere, where there are no spectators.

 

We already had one attempt to run a British Isles road race on some military roads in Mid-Wales, which didn't go anywhere (literally and figuratively). Will this one be any different?

[cpbell]

Interesting. It's scheduled for October, out of the main tourist season, but I suppose even on the south coast of England you'd have to worry about the weather.

 

With road circuits there's a sweet spot between taking place right in the middle of things, where there are lots of potential objectors, and taking place in the middle of nowhere, where there are no spectators.

 

We already had one attempt to run a British Isles road race on some military roads in Mid-Wales, which didn't go anywhere (literally and figuratively). Will this one be any different?

I'm not from the IoW, but I'm aware that it does attract tourists, and I'd imagine more are likely to be attracted there than somewhere in mid-Wales.

[stewie]

Blooming expensive, comparatively, to go to the IoW - I've been 3 times in my life despite living the majority of my life in Bournemouth. Might not put other people off mind.

 

As for the route, it's in less busy area of the island so hopefully won't put too many locals out.

 

Hope it goes well!

[BRG]

People in N. Ireland and on the Isle of Man are used to the annual death toll from bike racing.  And they are used to the craziness that surrounds those races from thousands of bikers who come to watch.  

 

Not so sure either will be very acceptable on the Isle of wight.  The first fatality is likely to shut it down for good,. 

[jonpollak]

If they can yell at Joni Mitchell during an acoustic set they can tolerate a frickin' motorcycle race.

 

Jp

[Ellios]

They are already racing part of this route hardly a weekend or dry summer evening passes without hearing bikes screaming down Military road to Blackgang and back.