MOTORCYCLES ARE NOT TO RUN AT THE BRIGHTON SPEED TRIALS

The Sprint Section of the VMCC have announced, with great regret, that motorcycles will not be running at the Brighton Speed trials this year, 2023 or, in fact for the foreseeable future.

In the press release issued by the VMCC Sprint Section, they state that they always take the safety of their riders extremely seriously and base any decisions about potential racing on this duty of care. Because of this need not to compromise on safety, the condition of the track itself is the overriding factor in this decision. Motorcycles are invited to race by Brighton & Hove Motor Club and the club is responsible for preparing the track to make it suitable for both cars and motorcycles. The track needs to meet high standards required by both MS UK for cars and the ACU for motorcycles and three wheelers.

Brighton & Hove City council have changed the layout of Madeira Drive over recent years and it is not now suitable for motorcycle or three wheeled motorsport, without extra safety features being installed.

The road surface now incorporates large cycle lanes and other road markings, using surfaces which are not safe for two or three wheeled vehicles to race on. Plus the road now narrows at the Concorde 2 and the Sea Lanes development is now on the south side of Madeira Drive. To make this safer, a galvanised steel Armco barrier and a wall of tyres are installed but, while these are perhaps good enough for cars, they do not offer enough safety for motorcycles. The cost for further safety features to be installed for motorcycles would be prohibitive and the VMCC Sprint Section could not justify it. Since the last event in 2019, the VMCC Sprint Section has been fighting to get bikes back at Brighton but rider safety is of course paramount and can no longer be guaranteed and so the sad and difficult decision has been taken to pull them from the event altogether.

A comment from the VMCC Sprint Section states: ...’we are sure some of our competitors will say "It's my life, I am prepared to take the risk" but it has to be recognised that the organisers have decisions to make too. In the worst case scenario, we would have to deal with the family, face the force of law and a Coroner, as well as our own consciences. The Sprint Section committee are not prepared to send our members and friends down a track that we have concerns about and which, ultimately, we would have to legitimise in front of a jury.'

It is so sad to see this great event closed for motorcycles, it has been running in September since 1905, with the fastest time recorded set by John Siggery in 1971 with a time of 9.38 seconds in a Geronimo Dragster from a standing start.

It has always faced opposition due to noise and safety concerns but this could finally be the curtain call for motorcycles at the event.

This year's event, in its car only incarnation, will be held in September.

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