Rallying and road racing both suffered another blow last week when the North West 200 and the Circuit of Ireland Rally both announced their events would not be running in 2021.

The cancellations mean two of Fermanagh’s most successful motorsport stars are continuing to put their sporting dreams on hold, with Lee Johnston and Alastair Fisher forced to play a waiting game.

The Isle of Man TT races had already been scrapped for this year, and for Johnston the cessations have come at a time when he was starting to establish himself as a winner of major races.

“It is right bang in the best time of my career, but it is what it is and there is nothing we can do about it,” he said.

“It is frustrating because it only ever happens once a year anyway and that is two years of it not happening now.

“I suppose I am lucky that it hasn’t come at the end of my career, and I have a few years left in me yet.

“Hopefully when it has passed we will get back out and win another few.”

A back-up plan

Lee has a back-up plan in the form of the 2021 British Supersport Championship, with organisers hopeful that the track-based series will commence once restrictions are eased.

Last season Lee was only occasionally in a position to battle for a podium, but he is hopeful that the team can take a step forward this season.

“It would be nice to win the British Championship,” he admitted.

“I think if we can take the same type of jump as we did last year, then we can be up at the front. With a bit more consistency we should be up there.

“I feel we won’t be too far away this year, so I will concentrate on that and then get back to the roads next year.”

In rallying, the loss of the Circuit of Ireland Rally also throws doubt on the viability of the 2021 Irish Tarmac Championship.

The Galway International in February, and the West Cork Rally in March have already been scrapped, and with the Ulster Rally not scheduled to be a round of the series this year, it leaves the series organisers facing the likelihood of having to cancel the championship for the second year in succession.

Long wait

Alastair Fisher had come close to an Irish Tarmac Championship win on several occasions recently, but it looked like his long wait for the illustrious title might be nearing an end when he dominated the 2020 Galway Rally to claim maximum points.

That season came to an abrupt end with a year of cancellations, but he is hoping to return to have another attempt at the series.

“I think, from a championship point of view it is finished this year, because half of it is already cancelled, but it would be nice to get back to the Tarmac Championship again when it restarts,” he admitted.

“We all enjoy getting out and enjoy competing on the events and getting the car prepared, but when there is nothing in the foreseeable future it is disappointing for the competitors.

“At the same time, we have to acknowledge that it is very difficult for the organisers to commit putting time and money in to the planning and then at the last minute maybe things getting tougher again and getting cancelled,” he said.