Motorcycling racing could be “gone from Ireland altogether” within a year or two because of an insurance crisis, a rising star in the sport has predicted.
Organisers of rallies must take out public liability insurance before an event but the cost has increased significantly this year.
A number of events have been called off and 18-year-old Aoife Griffin is struggling to find races to take part in.
“There’s no racing in the Republic,” she told Lunchtime Live.
“There’s racing up North but I’m from Cork, so that’s a long way to travel and I don’t have the time - especially around studying for my Leaving Cert and all that kind of stuff.”
The sport has always been expensive to insure because of the high level of risk involved; in the famous Isle of Man TT, 265 competitors have died since the competition began and Aoife is aware of the risks.
“The problem has been with accidents in recent years,” she said.
“I know the sport is dangerous - by all means, it is dangerous.
“But it’s still a sport, it’s still something benefiting young people - such as myself and such as my other friends inside the sport.
“But that shouldn’t be a means to stop the sport altogether - just because of money.”
Aoife’s family have long been involved in the sport; her father, uncle and grandfather all raced and she is upset the current crisis means she is unable to enjoy it like they did in their heyday.
“I can’t do my passion, I can’t compete with my friends, I can’t race to the standard I think I should be racing at,” she said.
“I can’t get faster, I can’t improve at all.”
The sport is enjoyed by thousands but Aoife is not optimistic a solution can be found to the current crisis.
“Not yet, I’d like to think that there would be soon but I don’t think people see it happening,” she said.
“It’s been going on so long; at this stage, I’m worried the sport might not even last if they can’t get insurance this year or next year, the sport will be gone from Ireland altogether.
“Insurance companies won’t help us in any way.”
