bikeracingnet.myfreeforum.org

Speed-images · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 81 Location: Cheshire

Usually at this time of year Welsh road racing veteran Ian Lougher is heading for the Macau Grand Prix, but this year he is off to a very different venue. He is travelling to Japan to promote a new "pure" road race event scheduled to take place in 2008 on the Japanese island of Miyakejima.

In 1983 a volcanic eruption hit Miyakejima and although the island recovered, a second eruption in 2000 devastated the island forcing the evacuation of all the inhabitants. It was five years before they were allowed to return and, by then, many had set up new homes and new lives on the Japanese mainland.

However, the last two years has seen the island re-group and re-develop and for the last two years they have been building towards the new road race. Scheduled to take place on an 18mile course, the event was the brainchild of the Governor of Tokyo who, along with his organising party, visited the Isle of Man TT Races in 2006 to see for themselves what was needed to host such a prestigious race.

The event is seen as an ideal platform to establish the island of Miyakejima as a tourist attraction, whilst also securing their place in the road racing calendar.

The launch is backed by Triumph Japan and Dunlop Tyres and will be a motorcycle festival celebrating the island's re-emergence with a sprint race, a drag race and a demonstration of motorcycles. Lougher will take to the course on a Triumph 675 road bike, showing Tokyo dignitaries around and passing on his vast road race knowledge to all those involved.

"It was a great honour for me to be asked to come out to Miyakejima island. I have raced in many different countries around the world, but this will be my first time in Japan,” said Lougher. “It is very exciting to be involved in the very first Miyakejima Island festival and I am delighted to be able to offer my support to everyone who has worked so very hard to make the event a reality."

The Isle of Man TT have added their official support to the event and this year's festival takes place from 16th-18th November.

_________________
www.speed-images.co.uk