Next year's Ulster Grand Prix motorcycling meeting could be under threat.

The Ulster Grand Prix Supporters Club, which has provided over �700,000 for the event over the past 40 years, has said that it might withdraw its support in 2003.

Supporters Club official Des Jarden has said that his organisation had encountered "severe problems" with two members of the Dundrod Club who ran the event in 2002.

"These were problems which we never had encountered before," said Jarden.

"We feel that we cannot support this event again should these individuals have anything to do with the event in the future".

Closeness to TT

The Supporters Club raised �40,000 for the 2002 event.

Meanwhile, the Monaghan Road Races will not take place in 2003 because the organising club was unhappy with the date proposed by the Ulster Centre of the Motorcycling Union of Ireland.

The Ulster Centre suggested 27/28 September but the North Monaghan Club felt this would be too late in the season because of the prospect of adverse weather conditions.

A date in late May was proposed as an alternative by the Ulster Centre but the North Monaghan Club said this wouldn't be suitable because of its closeness to the Isle of Man TT.

The demise of the Monaghan event leaves the Tandragee, Cookstown, Dundrod 150 and the Mid-Antrim as the only events in next year's Irish Championship.