Your Letters: Be a sport and give motorcycle racers and fans a proper

THE news that young Gary Dunlop is to follow his late father Joey into motor cycle racing is indeed joyous news to motorcycle racing followers in Northern Ireland.

After the tragedy of losing Joey to the sport last July, it is nice to see another member of the family bravely put on racing leathers to compete in the sport.

It must be difficult on mother Linda and she is to be applauded on her decision to stand by her son and help him in his motorcycle racing career.

I read in the Sunday Mirror that 17-year-old Gary will be competing in short circuit racing, as opposed to road racing, and I fully agree with this decision.

Road racing was once the "in-thing" in Ireland and Irish riders took their life in their hands at events throughout the Province as they competed not only against fellow competitors, but pitted their skills against the dangers of fences, trees and posts which lined the road circuits. But while the circuits have more or less remained the same, the machines haven't. They have become faster... indeed too fast for road circuits.

Road racing has had its day. I and many fans believe it died along with Joey Dunlop. To our Sports Minister, Michael McGimpsey, I will say this. What the Province now needs is a proper short circuit for national and world events.

Maybe we may even see a World Championship race here in the not- too distant future... and Gary Dunlop win it.

John Crawford, Lisburn

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