As you will all be aware there is huge uncertainty around the New Red Traffic Light COVID Protocol.
Motofest (Hampton Downs) informed MNZ on Monday that they cannot risk running the Motofest meeting and sustain heavy financial loss. The irony is neither can MNZ.
Over the past few years, the COVID situation has decimated the NZSBK Series and placed some huge financial burden around the model. With Motofest withdrawing from the series and unless there are a minimum of 4 rounds plus sponsorship and a paying gate, the series cannot exist.
The NZSBK Director and the team were trying to pull a fourth round into play with the help and supportive nature of the team in the far south, but with the news around Motofest the financial risk is too high, compounded with the Covid dynamic.
So, with this news we have taken the decision to cancel the series for 2022
As we alluded to earlier, the financial risk is too great given the impact of Covid on sponsorship, plus the series needs spectators, however we are talking to clubs to see if we can pull individual meetings together that represent some form of racing that supports the clubs and potentially builds a sounder foundation for the future with more club involvement.
We have some options, and we will work through the possibilities.
Grant Ramage – NZSBK Director
Andy Skelton – Road Race Commissioner