One of the biggest sporting events in Ireland in terms of spectators was held last week with hardly a ripple breaking in the non-Ulster media. The Northwest 200 series of motorcycle races run between Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush and they were held in perfect weather and attracted a crowd thought to exceed 100,000 people.

World class riders such as David Jefferies, Jim Moodie, Iain Duffus and Ireland's Phillip McCallen were involved in the event which would, in terms of attendance, equate to 12 or 24 (8,000 and 4,000 for the first two games) FAI Cup finals or 10 National League football finals (10,000), about 28 World Cup cricket matches (3,500) and at least 100 All-Ireland League rugby matches (ranging between one man and his dog to several thousand for a final). What is bike racing doing wrong?