Organisers of the 2008 Kennedy Group International North West 200 are getting into gear for this year's International North West 200 Race Week. Saturday 17^th May is the date set for Race Day which will see a revised race format, 1,000 additional grandstand seats, a new North West 200 Ducati bike and additional government funding for safety improvements.

Clerk of Course Mervyn Whyte MBE, says, "Excitement is already mounting for Saturday 17^th May. We made several changes to the race format which I am confident will appeal to both competitors and riders alike. Furthermore, the North West 200 Ducati bike will raise the global profile of the North West 200 more than ever. The £100,000 government funding for safety improvements is a great help to motor sport. Safety is paramount for us and this investment will help us to continue to make safety improvements to the course."

At the launch of the NW200, Sports Minister Edwin Poots MLA announced a £100,000 investment for local motor sport. He said, "I want to make sure that our courses are as safe as possible so that everyone can enjoy racing to the full. I am therefore very pleased to make an award of £100,000 to improve safety standards for the 2008 season. This is in addition to last year's award which helped meet the cost of safety requirements during the 2007 season. This included the purchase of portable safety equipment which will also be available for this year's programme."

The Sports Minister continued, "As an ardent fan of bike racing I am already looking forward to 17^th May with relish and to seeing some of the riders here today in action. I wish everyone involved well and hope that the weather and conditions are as good as last year."

Coleraine-based developer Kennedy Group will once again be the title sponsor of the North West 200. Alistair Kennedy, Commercial Director of Kennedy Group said, "Kennedy Group is delighted to be the title sponsor of the North West 200 for another year. I have watched the North West 200 grow and develop over many years and Kennedy Group is pleased to support an event which brings so much to the North Coast area."

Mayor of Coleraine, Cllr Maurice Bradley, said, "The North West 200 attracts thousands of visitors to our region and makes a significant contribution to our local economy. Council is pleased to host the North West 200 in the Borough and we continue to support the event as it goes from strength to strength. There has been and continues to be a great amount of partnership working between Coleraine & District Motor Club and Council staff on the organisation of the event and I would like to commend their efforts and sustained commitment."

There will be upwards of 1,000 extra grandstand seats in four locations during Race Week. The Press/Timekeepers facility will be of the same high standard as last year, an elevated structure situated by the finish line with full internet access and plasma screens. A large screen will be positioned to allow complete viewing for the hospitality deck and all spectators on the three grandstands at the start area.

Kennedy Group and JHP Ducati partnership
Kennedy Group recently launched a new motorbike racing partnership with JHP Ducati of Coventry which will see North West 200 branded bikes competing in all twelve British Superbike rounds as well as in the North West 200 this year.

The team, which will be known as the "North West 200 Ducati", will have eleven times North West 200 winner and speed trap record-breaker Michael Rutter on-board the new machinery. The package will also include two Ducati 1098R Superstock machines ridden by local Toomebridge rider John Laverty.

Mervyn Whyte described the partnership as a "tremendous boost" for the International North West 200 which, he said, will positively affect the number of long stay visitors to the North West region during Race Week, further boosting the local economy. Such a boost could represent an extra £4m - £5m to the economy during Race Week - an estimated 45% increase on current figures.

Mervyn Whyte said, "This partnership is fantastic news for the North West 200 and underlines Kennedy Group's commitment to the event. Not only does this investment represent a multi-million pound boost to the NI economy, it serves to further develop the profile of the North West 200 on an international stage. The North West 200 has global appeal and this partnership will most certainly increase traffic to our website, visitors to Race Week and the event's international standing."

The complete package undertaken by Kennedy Group cost £750,000. Alistair Kennedy of the Kennedy Group said, "This partnership will serve to raise the profile of the Kennedy Group International North West 200 within the British Superbike audience and beyond. We believe it will help position the International North West 200 as the premier road racing spectacle in the world and ensure the support of BSB's top manufacturers and teams."

Owned by John Hackett and managed by Ken Foley, JH Performance Racing has a strong Ducati heritage. John Hackett said, "This is a fantastic opportunity for everyone involved with the Team and I'm very much looking forward to working with Michael Rutter again." Team manager Ken Foley added, "To be in BSB is a dream come true for the JHP team and we have been delighted to be involved and develop this new project with Alistair Kennedy and Mervyn Whyte MBE."

New Race Structure for 2008
The 2008 Race Day schedule will see a revamped 2008 programme which will include a completely separate 250cc race previously run in 2000. The 125/400 races will be run concurrently but will be treated as two separate races. All three races will have separate prize funds and first, second and third prize winners will be announced for each race. A further significant change will be to allow 650 twin cylinder machines to take part in the 400cc race.

Mervyn Whyte explained, "This new format will now allow the competitor to take part in two out of the three races. It is certainly an ambitious plan but one which I am confident will enhance the International North West 200 for the competitors, sponsors and spectators.

"Both Superbike races will continue to operate under the FIM World Superbike specification. Our decision to continue to race under these specifications followed a survey of more than twenty-five teams and competitors who were 95% in favour of continuing with the current regulations", says Mr Whyte MBE.

Media Partner
BBC Sport Northern Ireland will once again partner with the International North West 200.

Mike Edgar, Head of Sport BBC Northern Ireland, said, "We're looking forward to another great year with the Kennedy Group International North West 200. Last year was a huge success and a brilliant event for us to be involved with. It was great to be able to bring fans extensive coverage of the entire NW200 experience across all our services on TV, on radio and Online - throughout the UK and around the globe. The North West 200 really is the jewel in the crown of road racing in Northern Ireland and we're looking forward to working with everyone again associated with the event - the organisers, the competitors, the fans and everyone who makes it not just a super sporting spectacle, but also a fantastic community occasion. Good luck to everyone."

Mervyn Whyte MBE said, "We are delighted to once again partner with BBC Sport Northern Ireland. Their coverage last year was superb and we received extremely positive feedback from the BBC's viewers, listeners and website visitors. We are looking forward to another successful year with them."

Race Week
The North West 200 Race Week Festival will be launched at Coleraine Borough Council in April. Once again, Coleraine Borough Council is organising a full and varied programme of events. Mayor of Coleraine, Cllr Maurice Bradley, said , "As ever, Coleraine Borough Council in conjunction with Coleraine & District Motor Club has organised a fun filled week of entertainment from Saturday 10^th May to Race Day. Families and bike enthusiasts can look forward to stunt shows, live music, fireworks, children's shows, cavalcades and exhibitions in the lead up to race day".

Road Safety
The BikeSafe initiative will play a key role supporting the 2008 North West 200. BikeSafe officers will encourage teams, riders and the media to highlight road safety in the build up to, during and directly following Race Week.
BikeSafe coordinator, Constable Bill Holden said, "We will be encouraging bikers to leave the speed and racing to the professionals on closed circuits. We have an excellent relationship with the Coleraine & District Motor Club and many of the top teams and riders. We all want spectators and bikers to enjoy this word-class racing event and stay safe on our roads. "There will be interactive BikeSafe display stands on ferries bound for Northern Ireland and the BikeSafe team will be based in the Paddock promoting road safety throughout Race Week. We will also be hosting a meeting of BikeSafe representatives from across the UK and Ireland - a first for the PSNI and North West 200!" Constable Holden said.

Hospitality
Shackleton Crean Event Management (SCEM) has redesigned the layout of the double-decker marquee for the 2008 event. The two-tiered structure will be extended to 20m wide with a dedicated entrance walkway and lobby.

Commenting on the new marquee layout and plans for the 2008 event, SCEM Director John McNally stated, "Undoubtedly, the previous year's hospitality at the event has been a resounding success but a desire to constantly improve our hospitality offer has spurred us to make changes. The expectation for a two-tier structure by corporate hospitality clients has contributed to the two levels of hospitality provision being offered at this year's event - in any case we feel the hospitality experience will far exceed that being offered at similar international events throughout Ireland and the UK."

Campsite
The main campsite, originally on the Islandtasserty Road, will now be located at Hilltop Caravan Park, Loguestown Road, Portrush with a capacity for 3,000 people. There are six sites available for touring vans: Hilltop, Blair's Caravan Park, McLaughlin's, the Paddock area and Rinnagree picnic area. A site for motorhomes will be located at the start line. For further information and prices contact Blair's Caravans on 028 7082 3537.

Website
The North West 200 website - www.northwest200.org - introduced in March 2007 has received over 4 million hits since coming online. During 2007 Race Week, 1.9 million people from all over the world logged on to the site from countries including Japan, Australia, Hong Kong and Poland. Coleraine company Redback Creations has designed and built the website. David Curry of Redback Creations said, " Redback Creations is very proud to support the International North West 200 by building and helping to maintain its website. Last year, Redback Creations uploaded the practice times and race results after each practice night which resulted in downloads from users in 75 countries around the world. Further development work planned for this year's race include online purchasing, improving the circuit map, continuing to add useful information and improving the way it is displayed to be user-friendly", said Mr Curry.
West 200 on Playstation 2!
The North West 200 game accurately recreates the circuit, bikes and riders giving fans the chance to experience what it takes to be a road racer like Robert Dunlop, Ian Lougher or John McGuinness and the sheer skill required to race the North West 200 at speeds of over 200mph.

Jester Interactive's latest game - TT Superbikes Real Road Racing Championship - is currently in development and will feature the most famous road racing circuits in the World, including the North West 200, Ulster Grand Prix, Oliver's Mount, Aberdare Park, Macau Grand Prix, Southern 100 and Isle of Man TT. This adrenalin packed pure road racing game will be available on Playstation 2.

Chosen charity for 2008
Northern Ireland Hospice Care is the North West 200's chosen charity. Speaking on behalf of Northern Ireland Hospice Care, regional fundraiser Angela Davison says, 'We are absolutely thrilled to be the official, nominated charity for the Kennedy International NW200 2008 event and the fantastic fundraising opportunities a prestigious event like this allows. During Race Week, visitors to the province as well as local people have the opportunity to become involved in raising much needed funds for the hospice through a variety of activities which will include a sponsored run/walk around the North West 200 circuit, golf competition and charity concert night and volunteers will be collecting throughout the week around the circuit."