New Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club chairman Gareth McAuley says it is an honour to take over the role and enhance the town’s “rich heritage” after confirming the dates for next year’s Armoy Road Races.
The event will be staged on Friday July 25 and Saturday July 26, continuing the tradition of hosting it on the final weekend of the month each year, and plans have now turned to attracting a world-class field to the Co Antrim circuit.
McAuley took over in September at the club’s annual general meeting having played a key role in the organisation beforehand, performing course maintenance and officiating on the grid during previous race weeks.
Now he is the main man and he is eager to see the Armoy Road Races go from strength to strength as they begin to put together all the pieces for the 2025 running.
“Setting the dates for Armoy Road Races 2025 was a top priority for the Club and planning for the event has already begun,” explained Gareth.
“Armoy Road Races has a reputation for attracting fans and top-class riders from across the UK, Ireland and beyond. Known for its challenging course and incredible community support, the event epitomises Armoy’s rich heritage in the sport.
“I’m honoured to have been appointed Chairman for the 2024 / 2025 season and we’ll be working hard over the coming months to ensure that the Armoy Road Races 2025 and those attending have yet another unforgettable weekend.”
McAuley’s comments come in the wake of a scathing Michael Dunlop interview where he described national road racing as being close to “finishing” outside of the Isle of Man TT and North West 200.
The Ballymoney man has been unmatchable in his ‘home’ event, winning the flagship Race of Legends an unprecedented ten times, but has had multiple fallouts with the AMRRC in the past and vowed in July that he would not return to Armoy in future.
“People will not like it but national road racing is finishing. It’s finished, we can see that,” Dunlop said in an interview with BBC Sport NI.
“The TT will thrive regardless; the North West will thrive regardless. That might be controversial.
“National road racing used to be the platform to go international road racing. Realistically, who is now winning international road races who is a national road racer? We’re racing against BSB people now.
“That’s who is at the front of the North West now, that’s who wants to be riding at the front of the TT.”