BBC SPORT | N Ireland | O'Kane quits motorcycling

Well-known Northern Ireland motorcycling sponsor PJ O'Kane has announced that he is severing his links with the sport.

A clearly unhappy O'Kane described the sport in Northern Ireland as a "joke".

The Garvagh businessman was furious with what he claimed was preferential treatment given to non-Irish riders at recent meetings.

O'Kane was uphappy with some British riders and overseas competitors received appearance money to compete.

The sponsor had a dispute with organisers of the Ulster Grand Prix over the issue and at one stage it looked as though his rider Richard Britton would not be allowed to compete.

The sport has gone down the plug hole big time

PJ O'Kane

"My decision to call it a day has come about after the goings on at the Dundrod 150 and the Ulster Grand Prix when overseas riders were treated like gods," said O'Kane.

"It was the Ulster that made up my mind.

"The organisers of that event would not let my rider Richard Britton into the paddock and told him to go home because of the dispute I had had with them over start money for visiting riders.

"That was disgusting and an insult to the Irish riders who received no help at all".

O'Kane also claimed that he had denied free admission to events this season even though he ploughed �130,000 into the sport.

Robert Dunlop was sponsored by PJ O'Kane for many years
Robert Dunlop: Previously rode for O'Kane

"I like many other sponsors am expected to pay to get into events to watch our own machines compete.

"I am having no more of it. The sport has gone down the plug hole big time," added O'Kane.

The businessman criticised the Motorcycling Union of Ireland's running of the sport.

"They deserve all the problems they reap from it.

"They have not done anything to help the sport in way of riders' representatives or sponsors' liaisons".

Sponsored Dunlop

The Garvagh man said the death of rider Gary Jess at the Ulster Grand Prix had been the "final straw".

"How could I live with myself if anything happened to a rider of mine?"

Enniskillen man Richard Britton and Broughshane's Rodney McCurdy have competed for the O'Kane team in recent seasons and Robert Dunlop previously was sponsored by the businessman.

"I hope Richard and Rodney get some sort of help next year.

"It's not fair on them as they have been a credit to the team.

"But officialdom has brought this decision to mind," added O'Kane.

O'Kane Racing's last meeting will be Sunflower Trophy at Bishopscourt in September.


	Links to more N Ireland stories