After the success of last year’s event we are hoping for an even better one this year. *Already motorcycle dealers have been taking more space and with the number of new models the major manufactures have launched for 2017 we expect to have most of these on display to date.

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BMW have announced the R1200 GS adventure, R1200 RT and R9T. *Kawasaki will have the 2017 Z650, Z900, Z1000 SX, Ninja 650 and Ninja ZX10.

Honda will have the African-Twin and CBR500 R and we are hopeful that the new 2017 CBR1000RR SP2 Fireblade will be on display.

Suzuki will have the*DL1000*V-Storm, Indian will have the Scout and Springfield models. *AJS will have motorcycles and scooters – MASH retro motorcycle and Artisan electric scooters. *

Triumph will have the*2017 Bobber, Street scrambler, T100 and Street Cup. *KTM will have 2017 Super Duke 1290GT, 1090 Adventurer. *

Yamaha will have the YZF-R1M, XV950 SCR and the Tracer 900.

Harley Davidson will have the Street Glide, Ultra Limited Electra Glide, and the Freewheeler trike. More new models from the manufacturers to be announced at a later date.

The Governing of motorsport here in the North of Ireland is well looked after by the Northern Ireland Karting Association (NIKA), Motor Racing Association (Ireland – MRA), and the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (UC). *We are delighted that all three organisations have taken stands at the Blackhorse Motorcycle Festival. Information on events, dates and how to get involved with the different disciplines will be available there.
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Roy Neil on behalf of MRA

The Motorcycle Racing Association (MRA) is once again pleased and delighted to be involved with Billy and Marty and the 2017 Motorcycle Festival. Following on from the success of last year’s event, the MRA will once again promote the ” Motocross Village ” stand displaying all aspects of off road motorcycling.*

An MRA affiliated club, the North Armagh club will also be in attendance to promote their upcoming and first ever British Championship Sidecar and Quadcross event which takes place at Desertmartin on the*1st April this year.
We are also pleased that another MRA affiliated club, the Temple Club will promote the David Jeffries Memorial Supermoto and Pit bikes on a new circuit outside the Eikon Exhibition Centre on the Saturday and Sunday of the Festival.
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Richard Dewart on behalf of the Karting Association

North Of Ireland Karting Association ‘NIKA’*are delighted once again*to*be a part of the Motorcycle Festival in 2017, following the 2016 show which we felt was a huge success*bringing 12,000 people to the new*Eikon*Centre*‘NIKA’ felt that it is an excellent way of introducing our sport to the public. Although the show is mainly involved with and appealing to the motorcycle community we feel our sports are close. A*lot of our sports men and women follow motorcycle racing which is huge here in Ireland,*in speaking to a lot of the team’s*racing Karts*they*have either a member of their team that has been involved in some form of Motorcycling in the past or maybe still*are*involved at present.

‘NIKA’*intend*this year to promote all our classes within the sport of*Karting*and hope to have a selection of Karts from each class on our stand. We will have karts ranging from the smallest and most recent class with Drivers from the age of 6 in their 40 mph Bambino Karts up to the mighty 250cc Div 1*Superkarts capable of 140mph. We hope to have drivers present on the stand to answer any questions you have regarding our sport*,*we hope they will join us on stage for interviews, we hope to have past British & World Championship winners on stage explaining how and what is involved in getting to that level.

We would like to thank all the Motorcycle Dealers and all other Motorcycle Clubs as without them supporting this event ‘NIKA’ would not get the chance*to promote our sport. We would also like to thank Billy & Marty Nutt from Nutt Travel as I don’t think any of us know and appreciate the time, effort & finances involved in getting this up and running each year, also any sponsors that are involved such as Blackhorse etc a big thanks to them for the support to the show, ‘NIKA’ *would just like to finally wish all involved with the 2017 Motorcycle Festival a very successful show and hope to see record numbers this year making it the biggest and best ever.*Lets*get 2017 off to a GREAT START!*

The Motorcycle Union of Ireland -*Ulster Centre are privileged to once again be involved with one of Ireland’s major motorcycle events of the year, here at the Eikon Exhibition Centre – NI Motorcycle Festival.

The MCUI (UC) main function is to govern*motorcycle sport in Northern Ireland, covering Trials, Tarmac sections, Short Circuits and Road Racing.
We encourage the pastime of motorcycle sport and will use the show as a opening to attract new and previous competition licence holders and promote the sport.
This has been a great event in the past years and we have no doubt this year will be bigger and better!

Seminar Information
Competitor Safety Seminars will be carried out at the Festival. These will consist of Flag Signals and Anti-Doping Seminars. Competitors taking the Seminars will be granted half price admission to the show. They will also need to produce their 2016 competition licences, for the purpose of identification to avail of this offer. Seminars will take place on Friday 3rd Feb @ 7pm, Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th @ 11am and 3pm.
We wish Billy and Marty every success and to all the other exhibitors in 2017.

We are delighted to have Trevor Kirke from BikeSafe Coordinator
In 2017 the BikeSafe team from the PSNI will again have a high-profile presence at the NI Motorcycle Festival. *BikeSafe Coordinator, Constable Trevor Kirke, said*“Following a very successful event last year we had no hesitation in coming on board with the Festival again in 2017. The event offers a perfect opportunity for us to engage with all types of motorcyclists in a friendly, informal environment, allowing us to discuss various aspects of road safety and encourage riders to consider signing up for one of our BikeSafe Workshops. *In fact, last year was so successful that our workshops were almost fully booked by close of show on Saturday!”*Evidence has shown that BikeSafe plays a crucial role in helping to reduce the number of motorcyclist fatalities on roads and encourages safer riding practices. The PSNI team will again be joined on their stand by the representatives of “First Bike on Scene” Emergency Skills training.

Custom Bikes Alternative SPEX Custom Bike
Alternative SPEX Custom Bike 2017 will run for the 3 days of the N.I.
Motorcycle Fest 2017, among the entries we have a BossHoss V8 bike, Streetfighters, a monster v12 trike, ratbikes, old school Choppers, Some Customised classics and a Jesse James Chopper built by West Coast Choppers USA….and much more!!

Classic Bikes
Freddie Spencer 250 Yamaha – Novice Race Winner Daytona 1978, Irish Champion winning 750 Yamaha 1976 & 1977, David Craig’s 2nd Place 250 Yamaha (British Championship), 250 (QUB) the late Brian Steenson and the 500 (QUB) which Raymond McCullagh rode in 17 races, winning 15. Bikes supplied by Adrian Craig and Raymond McCullagh.
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RTS Starwars and Superheroes NI

We are also delighting to have RTS Starwars and Superheroes NI, they will be putting on a show each day with different characters including Spider-Man, Super- Girl, Darth Vader, Storm Troopers and Boba Fett to name but a few. *We are looking forward to seeing them as this will be of great interest to the younger people.
Guest Line Up

‘King of the Jungle’ Carl Fogarty will fly into Northern Ireland to make a VIP guest appearance at the 2017 Blackhorse Northern Ireland Motorcycle. Fogarty sealed his place in World Superbike history after winning the title four times and remains a hugely popular figure in Northern Ireland, where he is renowned for his pure road racing exploits at the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix in addition to his incredible success on the World Superbike stage.

Fogarty will join 14-time Isle of Man TT winner Ian Hutchinson, who was the first big name to be confirmed on the guest list. Hutchy is gearing up for another season in the British Superstock 1000 Championship in 2017 along with the international road races, when his top priority is to challenge for Superbike and Senior glory at the TT for Ulster team Tyco BMW.

Lee Johnston – Fermanagh man Johnston has just been confirmed in the Jackson Racing team for this season, when he will ride Honda machinery at the major international road races.

The 27-year-old is determined to return to winning ways after an injury-plagued 2016 prevented Johnston from building on a terrific year in 2015, when he won the Superstock race at the North West 200 and clinched a superb treble at the Ulster Grand Prix. The ‘General’ also finished third in the Superstock race at the Isle of Man TT during his most successful year to date.

Andy Reid – Jordanstown prospect Andy Reid has yet to announce his plans for the new season, when the 22-year-old will be aiming to put his injury setbacks behind him.

Reid was ruled out of the remainder of the British Supersport Championship for the second year running after a crash in practice at Oulton Park on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki, which left him with a fractured wrist. The young Ulster rider is one of the brightest talents in the British championship and will be hoping for a turnaround in fortunes this year.

Ryan Farquhar – Dungannon’s Ryan Farquhar is still recovering from serious injuries sustained in a crash at the North West 200 last year, which put his life in jeopardy.

The Dungannon Dart intends to run his KMR Kawasaki team again this year, with the North West and Isle of Man TT his main priority. The 40-year-old hasn’t ruled out the possibility of one day racing again himself, although for now his focus is on building his fitness and finalising his plans for KMR Racing in 2017.

Alastair Seeley, who has yet to finalise his plans for 2017, became the most successful rider ever in the history of the North West 200 when he raised his tally to 17 wins last year.
The Carrick rider chalked up a double on the Gearlink Kawasaki in the Supersport class to surpass the previous record haul of 15 wins held by road racing legend Robert Dunlop.

Seeley is a former double British champion having won the Superstock 1000 and Supersport titles in the past and is seeking a return to the British championship this season.
He has already confirmed he will return to the North West in May, when he will line up as the rider to beat once again around the 8.9-mile Triangle course.

A live sex show featuring the ‘Wee Wizard’ will be produced by Colin James and Kaneto Shindo, Entitled ‘Seeley does Candi on a Tyco Suzuki’ with viewer discretion advised, the DVD will be available for purchase afterwards.

Further star guests are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Outside Activities
We will again be running the David Jeffries Memorial Supermoto plus Pit Bikes on the Saturday & Sunday. Along with the famous Purple Helmets and their madcap stunt show.

Shuttle Service & Free Car parking
We are offering free car parking at the event. We will also have 3 minibuses operating a shuttle service from Lisburn Railway Station to the Eikon Exhibition Centre.

We are also delighted to have a number of supporters clubs including the North West 200, Ulster Grand Prix, Armoy, North Armagh and Mid Antrim and Marshalls Association.

There will be a large selection of motorcycle clothing for both men and women, helmets and accessories and tool stands all being offered at discounted show prices.

Opening Times – Friday 3rd Feb 2pm – 10pm, Saturday 4th Feb & Sunday 5th Feb 10am – 5pm

Admission costs – Adults £12 / €12, OAP £6 / €6, children under 16 – FREE