Isle of Wight may see some motorcycle racing in October of this year!
It may not be the Diamond Races, but a new team is seeking to set up a road racing event for October 2021 on the Isle of Wight.
ISLE of Wight Road Races could be set for an October 2021 event date, as an alternative to the postponed Diamond Races - but it’s still very much early days with many talks yet to be held.
Whilst the exact route and dates still up in the air, it’s reported by County Press & Island Echo that a four day event may well take place in West Wight between the 20th and 24th of October, 2021 revolving around Tapnell Farm.
Our last visit to the Isle of Wight to ride the Diamond Races track
Whilst the Diamond Races would have been a time trial event, it’s thought that the Isle of Wight Road Races would be a 10-15 competitor race in West Wight. The team behind this initiative is rumoured to include Josie & Rob Da Bank, previously involved in planning Bestival on the island between 2004 - 2016.
News On The Wight reports the route is thought to be around 8.27 miles, set for Tapnell, Brook, Chessell, Freshwater Bay, and Compton - with various local parish councils (including Freshwater, Shorwell, and Brighstone Parish Council) discussing the proposal in ongoing meetings.
It’s not quite new information, as the race was first announced a day or so after the Diamond Races were postponed - but it seems it’s make or break time with various bodies discussing the likelihood that we see a weekend of Isle of Wight action.
Drama in the Parish
The potential race is not without its detractors, however. Residents in the meeting are reported to have raised concerns about noise, safety, pollution & the possible ‘copycat riders’ who may want to recreate the speeds along the route. Residents brought up that the race would interfere with an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) popular with tourists, following up by setting up a group called ‘West Wight Concerned Residents’ to voice their collective opinions.
The event would of course need therefore require the approval of locals, as well as the ACU, before being considered to run. If successful, the course would also lead to temporary closures and alterations to the road furniture, something the vocal-locals aren’t too happy about, either.
Organisers are said to expect the race to attract 10,000 spectators, if successful with their plans.
We’ll keep an ear to the ground and come back with updates - which should be fairly soon.
