16 replies to this topic

[tonyed]

See the NW200 2023 cancelled due to the thieving insurance companies with their take all pay nothing policies.

Worse than politicians - thieving bastards                   

[LittleChris]

Not just the NW200 but all motorcycle racing in NI inc trials I believe and questions over whether they can issue rider licences for NI riders racing abroad as they normally include an element of public liability insurance.

 

North West 200: International road race could still run in 2023, say organisers - BBC Sport

[tonyed]

This 'public liability insurance' scam.

At the NW200 the public view the racing from public areas - no entry fee can be charged so the public at at that viewpoint under their own liability.

Providing that the viewing public know that they are there viewing the races art their own liability then 'reason'  dictates that they should be aware that they are spectating in close proximity to motorcycles going at speed which 'could' be a potential danger to themselves.

The problem, as I see it is these leaches called the underwriters want to extract a vast profit from the organisers of the races to line their already bloated nests.

When was the last involvement of spectators at the NW 200 that resulted in personal injury.   

I know racing is dangerous, I have the long lasting still painful injuries to prove that. I never asked for or got a penny for those. I was, still am intelligent, enough to realise that if I take part in a dangerous pastime and suffer because of it the tough **** I took the chance and have no come back if it all goes wrong.

It is about time that we cease to be dictated to by a bunch of con-men.

But in a world where ambulance chasers  cold call you to 'enquire' if you've had a injury that wasn't your fault and attempt to goad you into making a fraudulent claim for one, or get you compensation from a supermarket because you slipped on the eggs you yourself dropped where are we going?

I said that these 'people' are worse than politicians, I now apologies to the corrupt, thieving, cheating, lying politicians as the insurance 'scammers' are far worse.     

[GregThomas]

Watching this with interest - and some concern. We still have 3 street race meetings atm. One tomorrow at the Burt. We had a very rare accident at the Bluff hillclimb the other day where spectators were injured. Another closed public road which is part of the Burt. Looks like no spectators on the course next time.

[LittleChris]

 

When was the last involvement of spectators at the NW 200 that resulted in personal injury.   

 

2015 I think when Dean Harrison lost it on the exit of the right kink after York Corner and Stephen Thompson and Horst Saiger piled into his bike. A female spectator standing in her garden was quite badly injured and Thompson lost an arm.  

 

I quite agree however, motor sport is dangerous and spectators attend at their own risk whether paying or not. However I reckon it's as much the brokers as the underwriters that are the thieves in this instance. All trying to maximise their "earnings" for little or no risk. Matt Hancock's disease I think they call it 

[Rodaknee]

I ran a quick search on "public liability insurance motor racing events" and came up with at least 3 companies offering circuit insurance, one was world wide.  Have the Brexit issues in Ireland created this problem?

 

I can't see how trials can be affected.  I've never heard of a farmer claiming for a damaged tree. Trials rider injuries are pretty tame compared to road racing. Spectator injuries are unheard of.

 

There's been no mention of insurance problems for car racing.  There's a lot of rallying on the roads in Ireland, it's often shown on the box.  In fact a man was killed at a rally a year ago in southern Ireland.

[Sterzo]

See the NW200 2023 cancelled due to the thieving insurance companies with their take all pay nothing policies.

Worse than politicians - thieving bastards                   

Utter twaddle. They are businesses who calculate the cost of premiums based on the cost of claims. No company has a public duty to insure anyone. I do not know the figures (and doubt you do) but this must be one of the highest risk activities anyone is ever asked to insure. Part of me loves road racing, but part of me thinks it's had its day because the level of danger is off the scale.

 

I get the argument that if an individual wants to take that risk, then he should be able to. I don't get the argument that an insurance company should subsidise it.

[Rodaknee]

Utter twaddle. They are businesses who calculate the cost of premiums based on the cost of claims. No company has a public duty to insure anyone. I do not know the figures (and doubt you do) but this must be one of the highest risk activities anyone is ever asked to insure. Part of me loves road racing, but part of me thinks it's had its day because the level of danger is off the scale.

 

It's not the highest risk by a long way.  All members of the UK armed forces can get insurance, including those in the front line. As can professional motorcycle racers.

[Sterzo]

One of, Rodaknee. And we're talking public liability, i.e. covering the prospect of a bike cartwheeling into the spectators. Low probability but catastrophic impact.

[Risil]

Does public liability also apply when the actions of one competitor cause another's injury?

[Sterzo]

The honest answer is "dunno", Risil, though I'll bet there's a forum member somewhere who does. Negligence by the other competitor (e.g. extreme aggression or recklessness, but not mere error) rmight make him liable instead. I seem to remember some events at least insist the riders take out their own life insurance or else they can't compete.

 

The ACU provides insurance cover to events in England and the Isle of Man; the problem of increased costs at present affects Eire and Ulster.

 

It will be a sad day when road racing ceases to exist. The pressure of increasing litigation, higher settlements, and changing safety expectations will inevitably make itself felt. Closed circuits like Brands Hatch have made continual upgrades to safety (sometimes to the detriment of spectating) as the local authorities and insurers exert pressure.

[LittleChris]

So what happens if there's no insurance cover available so official events can't go ahead ?

 

Given these races are held on small Irish roads  usually well away from big towns / cities subject to police enforcement , will we see outlaw events ?

[tonyed]

There is now a crowdfunding for the NW200

 

https://gofund.me/dcc92b5c

Edited by tonyed, 13 February 2023 - 07:45.

[kevins]

Just after reading about this, from what I read last year's TT is being cited as a/the reason.

 

Is the TT itself going ahead?

 

Phillip McCallen is saying people should be charged in to watch, so I assume this is not the case already? I've only been to the Skerries road races here in the South of Ireland, I'm sure it was free when I started going, but the last few times I went is was 10 or 20 Euro in. They also have a "sponsor a hay bale"  system where local business get their name in the program, which is a great idea.

[LittleChris]

TT and other IOM races going ahead as far as I'm aware. See Sterzos post above regarding insurance.

[Rodaknee]

I'm guessing Oliver's Mount requires similar insurance.  Their season appears to be going ahead as usual.

 

https://roadracingne...dates-released/

[LittleChris]

Covered by the ACU as per other events in England presumably