Two of the country's iconic motorcycle venues are under threat.

The 1.35 Aintree circuit, which is predominately used for motorcycle racing these days, has had a cloud hanging over it following a freak accident in 2018 in which a competitor sustained life changing injuries.

As a result, many discussions and inspections with the ACU and the circuit owners took place and it was decided extra safety equipment would have to be installed and resurfacing work carried out before a new course certificate cold be issued.

The Aintree Motorcycle Racing Club, who run six meetings per year there, weren’t in a position to meet the full cost themselves, but a three-way contribution was agreed between themselves, the Aintree course owners and the Liverpool Car Club.

Unfortunately, with the coronavirus outbreak, the course owners have not gained any revenue from the cancelled Grand National and are now reviewing their offer.

To add further complications to the ongoing negotiations, the chairman of the Aintree racecourse Rose Patterson sadly passed away last week.

I do hope this historic venue can be saved, as I watched my first motorcycle race there which sparked my own interest in the sport.

The original three-mile circuit, which was last used in 1964, was built in 1954 and hosted five of the British Grand Prixs there from 1954 to 1962, with such famous names as Sir Stirling Moss and the late Jim Clark attracting crowds of 150,00 spectators.

Our own Mike Walker from Barrow still holds a lap record on the motorcycle circuit.

Further south, the Brighton Speed Trials, held on the seafront at Madeira Drive, are under threat too.

Following the ban on vehicles using the drive during the lockdown period the public, pedestrians and cyclists etc are pressing the council to keep it a vehicle-free drive, effectively ceasing any motorsport activities, which have taken place there since1905.

The Vintage Motorcycle Club were hoping to run this year's event in September on the quarter-mile strip and are now awaiting the council's decision.

* Last week, I featured Alan Wikinson ('Wilkie') and Frank Charles, who represented England in the Speedway test series ,but I didn't have space to mention another Furness rider who represented his country too.

Millom`s John Walmsley represented England in the 1992 Ice Racing World Championships at Oulu in Finland - to me, it's one of the scariest forms of motorcycle sport where machines are fitted with large spikes in the tyres for grip.

The angles of lean gave way to some spectacular racing, but if you were unfortunate enough to get run over, injuries could be horrendous.

Still on the speedway scene, 'Wilkie' captained the Belle Vue Aces to many victories and decades later Askam`s Steve Shuttleworth captained the Belle Vue Colts to win the 2017 Knockout Cup championship in 2017.

Ian Hindle from Marton rode for Barrow and Belle Vue as well from 1972 to 1975.

* Motocross riders finally come under starters orders, at least here in Furness.

The Cumbria MX Club, who run their meetings on the Route 44 track at Haverigg, have finally been given the green light from their organising body, the MCF, to run events following the recent relaxing of some of the lockdown restrictions.

They have recently been organising practice weekends again within government guidelines and it's time to put practice into action.

The first competitive weekend is planned for July 11/12.

If you do intend on competing, get in touch with Lianne on 07552 964565 or Sam on 07907 431202 to reserve your place.

Only online entries are accepted and none on the day. Camping is permitted but throughout the weekend social distancing must be strictly adhered to.

* Disgraced former Norton Motorcycle CEO Stuart Garner has been ordered to repay the £14 million that went missing from the company’s pension fund whilst he was in charge.

The Pension Ombudsman recently ruled that Garner had acted dishonestly. H’`d reinvested the members’ pension fund in an attempt to prop up the failing Norton company, which had been struggling financially under his leadership since 2008 and finally went into administration in January this year.

He`s been ordered to pay a further £180,00 to the 30 employees and investors concerned for ‘exceptional maladministration causing injustice’, but there was no mention of the £60,000 still owed to TT star John McGuinness (picture by Angie Goody), who carried out many promotional appearances for the company and raced the ill-fated Norton for them in last year’s TT.

Indian motorcycle company TVS Motors bought the Norton brand in April this year.