Mondello Park Announces Enforced Change to Masters Series The recent cancellation and rescheduling of the opening round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch has forced Mondello Park into making changes to the schedule for its three round ‘Mondello Masters’ series. Last weekend’s opening BSB event was cancelled due to snow and immediately re-arranged for May 11th, the scheduled date for the second Mondello Masters event at the Kildare track. The May 11th race meeting was to be the biggest of the season for the circuit, with the ‘Masters’ prize fund doubled to 14,000 pounds in order to entice UK BSB teams to travel to Mondello on the way to the following weekends North West 200. With the rescheduled Brands Hatch races now being run on this date, the circuit has been left with no option but to also change its own dates and transfer the doubling of the prize fund to the final ‘Masters’ race of the year in October. The new date for the second ‘Mondello Masters’ has been chosen as July 6th the day after the Skerries road races, and the one off race will now be run as part of the Clubman championship event running on that day. With the doubling of the prize money for the October event the ‘Masters’ purse will return to 7,000 pounds for the July 6th race. Speaking of the change of date, John Morris Managing Director of Mondello Park said. “This alteration is not what we would have wanted but under the circumstances we have no alternative. The circuit could not justify the huge investment in the prize fund for an event which clashes with a round of the BSB, as this would be counter productive for everyone involved, including the competitors who wish to race in both. We feel that the new date will offer us an excellent opportunity to again attract a top line entry and offer spectators another quality event. The transfer of the prize fund to the end of season will hopefully make that an even bigger event than we might have had in May. The changes to the schedule have only come about due to the enormous support and assistance of Motorcycling Irelands Short Circuit Committee and The Fingal Motor Club and we are extremely grateful to both.” The ISB round scheduled for May 10th & 11th will proceed as planned but without the ‘Mondello Masters’ race. The Fingal club will however run ‘The Race of the Year’ as an additional race at that event, over fifteen laps with a 3,000 pound prize fund Speaking on behalf of the Fingal Motor Club Eamonn Medlar said, ” we are happy to facilitate these new arrangements as we realise the risks involved in running a ‘Masters’ event that clashes with the BSB. The financial risks are too high for all concerned and could have a devastating long term impact on our sport.” The new ‘Mondello Masters’ race will be an invitation event with the fastest ten riders from either the ISB or Supersport classes at each of the two preceding ISB rounds being guaranteed an entry. The remaining grid slots will be filled with invited riders and wildcard entries to be decided on by Fingal and Mondello Park.