Roads: 2022 North West 200 dates confirmed

Organisers have confirmed that the 2022 North West 200 (NW200) road racing event will take place on May 8-14.

The Northern Irish event has been cancelled for the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic; however, road racers will now return to the 8.9-mile Triangle Road Circuit which links the towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine.

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This year’s NW200 will be the first international road race to take place since the road racing calendar was essentially closed down at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

“Although the pandemic stopped the race action over the past two seasons, the management team of Coleraine and District Motor Club have been working hard to ensure the structures and support that underpin the North West 200 have remained in place for the day when we would be able make this announcement,” Club Chairman, Stanleigh Murray, said.

The return of the NW200 will be a huge boost for the economy in Northern Ireland after a tough 24 months which has included multiple lockdowns. With no racing since 2019, thousands of fans will be expected to visit the area during race week, whilst many will tune in on TV as well.

Meanwhile, fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils, the event’s title sponsors in 2019, will both return for the 2022 races.

“After a challenging two years for the sport and the event, it’s fantastic to see it back on the road race calendar and we look forward to an even bigger and more exciting race week in May 2022,” fonaCAB’s William McCausland said.

Gary Nicholl, of Nicholl Oils, added: “The organising team at the NW200 have worked tirelessly to ensure the return of the race and the positive impact that the Race Week festival will have on our local economy. They have overcome hurdles that could have seen the demise of this famous race and they fully deserve the support of us as sponsors, our local council and fans.”

Glenn Irwin was victorious onboard a Kawasaki in the one and only Superbike race at the 2019 NW200, achieving Kawasaki’s first Superbike victory in 42 years. The final Superbike race was cancelled on safety grounds. Irwin also won three Superbike races onboard a PBM Be Wiser Ducati between 2017 and 2018.

Alastair Seeley has the most race wins at the NW200 with 24 victories, however 2019 was the time in 11 years that he didn’t win a single race at the event.