[Moto] Government pledge £6 million lifeline to motorsport venues in England

[THē-GHōST]

 

English motorsport venues have been handed a £6 million cash injection from the government to help see them through winter and offset the earnings lost through lack of spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic. Part of a larger £300 million scheme announced earlier today, known as the 'Sports Winter Survival Package', owners and operators of major English circuits; including Silverstone, Goodwood and the British Automobile Racing Club will be able to apply for the funding to help see them through to the 2021 season. Related articles on MCNHow to keep your bike's battery chargedHow to clean your motorbikeSet up your bike like a road test proMotorbikes at the 77th Goodwood Members' Meeting Also entitled to support are MotorSport Vision (MSV), who own Cadwell Park, Donington Park, Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Bedford Autodrome and Oulton Park. Funding for each activity was allocated through a needs-based assessment process, plus submissions made from the individual sports."We promised to stand by sports when we had to postpone fans returning. We are doing just that by delivering another £300 million on top of existing business support schemes," Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said. "Britain is a sports powerhouse, and this Government will do everything we can to help our precious sports and clubs make it through Covid."Motorsport in the UK was dealt a massive blow in 2020, with spectators prohibited at larger events, such as all rounds of the British Superbike championship. The Silverstone MotoGP was also cancelled as part of a restructured season in mainland Europe, too. Speaking about this year's closed off racing season, Silverstone Managing Director, Stuart Pringle, said: "The cancellation of MotoGP and the fact we were left with no option but to run all other events behind closed doors this season has resulted in an 80% drop in revenue for Silverstone in 2020 so this news is extremely welcome. "We have not yet seen the full details of the support package so cannot comment on how much of an impact it will have on our immediate future but the news is certainly positive."Sports Minister, Nigel Huddleston, added: "Over the past few weeks we have worked tirelessly with sport governing bodies and clubs across the country to fully assess what support is needed, as a result of the decision to postpone the return of fans."We know the vast majority of sports - many of which operate on tight financial margins - have been making serious cost reductions, such as locking down grounds, taking up the furlough scheme for many staff and halting excess payments."The largest portion of the available funding went to rugby union, which recieved a sizeable £135 million. Following them was £40 million for horse racing and then £28 million for football. Sitting just below motorsport is tennis at £5 million and then basketball and netball, which both get £4 million each. The first portion of the money is expected to be delivered in the coming weeks. 

 

 

Confusion still surrounds whether or not you can legally ride recreationally during the current England lockdown.Several legal firms and riding groups believe that as the law states you are legally entitled ‘to leave your home to visit a public outdoor place for the purposes of open air recreation on your own, with members of your household or with one person outside that group’ that, as the road is an open public space, this means you are okay to ride for pleasure as long as you stay on public land (but you can’t go to a motocross track, for example).Where things get slightly murkier is with the Government’s advice, which recommends reducing the number of journeys you take. "Riding your motorcycle for pleasure wouldn’t be classed as essential travel or qualify under the exceptions listed," said Chief Constable for Northamptonshire and keen motorcyclist, Nick Adderley. "I don’t think you could argue it’s exercise either. I’m equally frustrated having to leave my bike in the garage." These conflicting stances are not helped by the Government’s refusal to offer further clarity when asked by MCN – so the debate looks set to continue until the lockdown in England, put in place to protect the NHS, ends on December 2. See the latest legislation at www.legislation.gov.uk.