Armoy Road Races to be streamed live worldwide as organisers respond to growing global demand

The Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club (AMRRC) has announced an agreement with King of the Roads that will see this year’s Armoy Road Races broadcast live to road racing fans around the world.

Road racing fans across the world will be able to watch this year’s Armoy Road Races live for the first time after organisers secured a new broadcasting agreement with King of the Roads.

The deal means the County Antrim event, taking place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July, will reach an international audience while giving supporters unable to travel to Armoy the opportunity to follow the action live.

Growing international audience

The Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club (AMRRC) says demand from overseas fans has grown significantly in recent years as the event’s reputation has continued to expand.

Established in 2009, the Armoy Road Races are now in their 17th year and have become one of Northern Ireland’s best-known road racing meetings, attracting thousands of spectators annually.

AMRRC Treasurer George Huey said the new partnership reflects the event’s growing international following.

“We’re delighted to partner with King of the Roads this year so that Armoy fans can tune into all the action from wherever they are in the world.

“Last year, we had fans watching from as far away as Manhattan in New York, which makes us exceptionally proud to know that Armoy is well and truly on the global map.”

Friday’s racing will be available to watch free on the Armoy Road Races and King of the Roads Facebook pages. Saturday’s programme will be streamed through the King of the Roads app on a pay-per-view basis.

Rising costs behind the decision

The announcement also comes as road race organisers continue to face increasing financial pressures.

According to Mr Huey, the cost of staging the Armoy Road Races has risen by almost 50% since 2019 because of higher insurance premiums, infrastructure costs, transport and medical expenses.

The club has also invested around £23,000 in improvements to the circuit ahead of this year’s event, including expanding the paddock area and enhancing facilities for competitors, teams and spectators.

“It is quite challenging to host an event of Armoy’s scale, both financially and physically, but we manage it every year. You also must remember that our members are all volunteers who work tirelessly each year, purely for the love of the sport.

“With the July holidays and the races being held slightly earlier this year, which means that some people are either travelling or on holidays during the Armoy Road Races, partnering with King of the Roads means fans will still be able to experience all the racing live, regardless of where they are in the world.”

He added that the club remains committed to investing in the event to ensure Armoy continues to be a major fixture on the Irish road racing calendar.

Final preparations under way

AMRRC Chairman Gareth McAuley said anticipation is building ahead of race weekend, with organisers expecting another large turnout in the village.

“The countdown is well and truly on and excitement is building throughout the village. We’re expecting another great turnout, exhilarating racing and a brilliant atmosphere over the weekend.

“Our supporters are extremely dedicated, travelling from all corners to enjoy the thrilling spectacle that is Armoy and now, thanks to our agreement with King of the Roads, we’ll be able to ensure that those who cannot physically join us next weekend won’t miss out on any of the excitement.”

The Armoy Road Races conclude with the prestigious Bayview Hotel Race of Legends, while television highlights will also be shown on BBC Northern Ireland and ITV4 at a later date.

Programme packages, which include a vehicle parking pass and a limited-edition event lanyard providing access to selected viewing areas around the circuit, remain available ahead of the event.