The ‘North West 200’ is an annual motorcycle road-racing event held in Portrush, Northern Ireland, attracting both international riders and spectators. It was established in 1929, at a time when purpose built racing circuits did not exist. The street circuit distance is 8,970 miles (14,436 km) known as the Triangle between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine, and Portrush in the Causeway Coast and Glens. The course is one of the fastest in the world, with average speeds of 120 mph (190 km/h) and top speeds over 200 mph (320 km/h). The number and the classes of races have varied according to the latest regulations. From 1990 until 2010, there was always a 125cc race and since 1992 the North West 200 event has included the Superbike category. Street circuits are notoriously dangerous because the original streets were not designed for racing like normal circuits that are designed specifically for racing. In the history of the North West 200, there have been many fatalities, and as of this year (2022) 19 racers have died.
The event usually takes place in the middle of May. The North West 200 has a full Race Week Festival of racing, stunt shows, concerts, chat shows, and firework displays.
This year's North West 200 (2022) took place on 10th, 12th May (practice day), and 14th May (race day). The 14th fell on a Saturday, and luckily the weather was ideal. I attended the event, and the location I chose was the Metropole Corner in Portrush, a popular vantage point, and just a short walking distance from the train station. Since I'm not a true biker, I attended the event more because I wanted to enjoy the atmosphere. I love seeing the enthusiasm of motorsport lovers who make the north coast atmosphere very lively and active. The screams of the racing motorbikes mixed with the sounds of the excited spectators, makes for a very exhilarating atmosphere. The crowds queued for their ice cream, and the air was filled with the mouth-watering smell of BBQs, and of course we must not forget the tempting smell of the traditional ‘Fish & Chips’, which you just have to try every time you visit Portrush, and is typical of the excitement of the North West 200 event.
Along the area near the racing arena, many motorbikes owned by motorsport lovers park there. It is enough to attract the eye of the beholder, we can find various brands and styles of motorbikes easily. There are also several Harley Davidson motorcycles with unique designs. I videoed some that I saw in the area around the race. There were so many motorbikes, I didn't have time to video them all.
I also videoed the race event, but because the race was so fast, I was only able to video a few seconds of each lap. Even though my location was at a corner where the racers had to slow down, it was still too fast for me to make a clear and complete video.
Here's the video, please enjoy
▶️ 3Speak
