By Lucy Morgan Audience and Content Editor
The Isle of Wight Road Races and the Diamond Races hope to race bikes on Isle of Wight Roads in 2022. Green Party candidates have slammed as an ineffective tick-box exercise, a consultation on plans for two motorbike road races on the Island s roads. Two separate events, the Isle of Wight Road Races and the Diamond Races, want to bring elite bike racing across The Solent, to the Island. Early-stage plans have revealed that Brook, Chessell, Tapnell, Freshwater Bay and Compton could all be on the route, with hard road closures, and the removal of road signs, street furniture and cat’s eyes.
Motor Race Order
Only once the SAG has reviewed the full event plans and the permit and made a recommendation to the Isle of Wight Council, are the councillors in a position to issue a Motor Race Order.
One final thing: according to English law, the Motor Race Order, which enables the roads to be closed must be issued no less than six months before the event is due to take place.
This gives a drop-dead date for the IWC to issue a Motor Race Order, of about 20th April 2021.
Lots of moving pieces
Hopefully the details above are reasonably clear. There are quite a lot of moving pieces.
Isle of Wight Road Races: Not happening in 2021. Here’s why
Isle of Wight Road Races 2021 seemed to be progressing – until today
The Isle of Wight Road Races being considered for October 2021 will not now be taking place.
The news comes after Isle of Wight council leader Dave Stewart and Cllr Steve Hastings completed a series of meetings with local parish councils and following discussions with both officers and organisers.
Stewart: We are not out of the woods yet
Cllr Stewart said,
“In a year when Covid-19 has dominated our lives, and we know we are not out of the woods yet, both Cllr Hastings and I have been clear that community safety has been our paramount concern.
The face behind the plans is Isle of Wight resident James Kaye. He is a two-time winner of the British Touring Car Championship (1992 and 1994) and has had a long career in motor racing, driving for Honda, Toyoa and Volkswagen. Mr Kaye wants to bring international motorcycle racing to closed public roads on the Island. On the new website, which includes an FAQ (and a chance for Islanders to ask questions), Mr Kaye said: “I firmly believe that the benefits to the Island will far outweigh any temporary inconvenience. My organising team is determined to place the Isle of Wight on to the international motor sport map.”
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