NI - Motorsport Event & Sponsorship Opportunity

The future of an award-winning sporting event is hanging in the balance this week with news that a local council is no longer able to host the prestigious event - but has also opened the way for the chance of a major marketing spectacular for a new host or sponsor to take-up.

The Lightweight Motor Cycle Club has organised three separate World Championship Trials in Northern Ireland, all hosted at Bangor, Co Down over the past years.

These events have successfully attracted large numbers of visitors, competitors and local spectators to enjoy some of the top Trials riders in the world in competition.

"In 2004, the World Championship Trial won the 'Event of the Year' at the Northern Ireland Tourism Awards 2004/05," said Jarleth Downey, a spokesman for the organisers.

"The Award was given to the Outdoor Trial 'For the most innovative, popular and successful event during the past year'," he continued, noting that the Lightweight MCC has now just received the unfortunate news that North Down Borough Council will no longer be able to host the World Trial Championship event in 2009.

"The Club has been allocated the first two rounds of the 2009 World Championship Trial on the 4th and 5th of April 2009 on behalf of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland, and we intend to still organise the event on Northern Irish soil.

"We are therefore in discussions with a number of potential hosts and venues at this stage, but we would like to hear from anyone who is as passionate about motorsport as we are, and would like to get involved in hosting or supporting the upcoming World Championship Trial in Northern Ireland," he said.

Historically, this event has been attended by thousands of spectators from Northern Ireland, Ireland and the rest of the UK, as well as attracting large numbers of international visitors, and in 2008, there were over 10,000 visitors in total in Bangor for the event.

"It has also drawn a huge amount of media attention including newspaper, magazine and television, due to the exciting nature of the course and the acrobatics that the riders have to perform in order to finish the sections," continued Mr Downey.

He said that the 2009 event offers a unique opportunity for a company or an organisation to reach a huge local and international audience in a media rich environment, and raise awareness of their products or brand.

"It would also allow an organisation to expand their event portfolio with a gem of an international motorsport event and to help promote their local area and hugely increase visitors and tourism for the period of the World Championship Trial Weekend," concluded Jarleth.

Any organisations interested in potentially hosting or even sponsoring this event should contact the Secretary Marjorie at 028 38342444 or the Press Officer Jarleth at 028 92613569/07795075092.

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