Superbike Road Race in Bermuda 05 - 07 Sep 2020

our story

Bermuda has a rich motoring culture. We take pride in our boats, our cars and perhaps most of all, our motorcycles.

As well as our famous local auto shows and ride-outs, which celebrate our motoring community, we have great ambitions for racing. When the restrictions of the global coronavirus pandemic abate, we will make history on our island by holding a superbike race on closed public roads. Our main event will be Zero-Emission Superbikes, putting on a show for the world and accelerating Bermuda's sustainable future.

The Race Village and Start Line will be at beautiful Clearwater Beach, and visitors can expect to take in turquoise waters, white sand beaches and palm trees in a nature lover's paradise.

Event patrons will enjoy the latest and greatest demonstrations of automotive and renewable technology at our beach front Auto Show & Energy Expo, with more than 30 partners displaying their products. Food will be available from the island's most popular vendors, and childrens activities such as scooters, pedalos, water slides and fun castles will keep families entertained.

Our race course is unique and glamorous. Of interest along the route are an active NASA facility, a superyacht capable harbour, a private jet bay and Bermuda's brand new airport!

If you want to get right in the middle of the action, you can have access to the race team paddocks, and even rent a viewing cabin right above the competitor pits, overlooking the Start Line and the beautiful myriad of blues on our shores. From this elevated position, guests will enjoy a cool sea breeze and the best possible view of the bikes and riders, while delicious hampers of champagne and fresh lobster will be close at hand.

Cabin guests can also cross the track to an exclusive beach bar serving cocktails and local cuisine, and relax on private loungers by the sea. A jet ski tour service will also be available for those who want to experience speed for themselves!

find out about our superbike road race in Bermuda

THE TEAM

Meet the people behind the Bermuda Charge

Antoine
Richards (PR)

Bermuda's only professional motorcycle racer, Antoine sharpened his skills in the AMA Supersport Championship in the USA. Former President of the Bermuda Association of Motorsports (BAM), Antoine is an advocate for road safety and regulated provision within Bermuda. He has now set up Bermuda Motorcycling Academy (BMoto) for advanced rider training. As an accomplished industry professional, Antoine will lead the charge for motorsport in Bermuda!

David Cahill
(Director)

A Bermuda resident in the beautiful East End, David was inspired by his surroundings. Bermuda has all the assets required to be a renewable energy world leader. Seeing an opportunity to combine an environmental initiative with the excitement of superbike road racing, David set to work on a project that would generate tourism and economic impact, as well as accelerating Bermuda's sustainable future.

Race Committee

We have combined international expertise from the North West 200 with local knowledge from the Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Association (BMRA). Takara Dill, the first female President of the BMRA sits on the Bermuda Charge Race Committee alongside NW200 Logistics Officer Lawrence Ward, and superbike champ Steve Plater who comes experienced with wins at the NW200, IOMTT, Macau Grand Prix and British Superbikes.

Mervyn Whyte MBE

Mervyn brings a wealth of experience to oversee the safety of our race events. As well as being Chief steward for Bristish SuperBikes (BSB), he is the Event Director for Ireland's largest event, the North West 200 Road Race (NW200), which attracts 100,000 spectators each year. Mervyn has been a key figure in the NW200 since 1973! His contributions to tourism and motorsport resulted in his award as a Member of the British Empire.

Bermuda Road Safety

We are committed to improving the safety of Bermuda's public roads through our race. Statistics show that when people have access to regulated provision for racing motorcycles, the number of road traffic incidents drop. A carefully considered route, on closed roads without the risk of oncoming traffic or pedestrians, gives riders a choice to exercise their need for speed in the safest possible way.

When riders are not given a choice, it is demonstrated that incidents rise. These incidents often occur after the victim has consumed alcohol, leading to an inflated sense of courage and ability. We are painfully aware of this in Bermuda, with a 3 year rolling average road fatality rate of 11 in 65,000, and a high incidence of alcohol consumption within those figures.

Now study the figures below to see how regions providing regulated motorsport compare to Bermuda:

Northern Ireland: 8 - 12 motorcycle road races annually. 1,822,000 population. 3 year rolling average road fatalities: 58. This equates to 2 in 65,000.

Isle of Man: Within the 84,000 population, which does not have national speed limits in many parts, and hosts an influx of 44,000 bikers for 3 weeks every year, the Isle of Man achieves a ratio of 3.9 in 65,000.

Monaco: Population 30,000. Race cars power through city centre roads at 370kph for the Monaco Grand Prix. Monaco has one of the lowest road mortality rates in the world, achieving an equivalent of 0.4 in 65,000.

How could a road race in Bermuda help reduce road traffic casualties?

1. Regulated provision: An opportunity for people to exercise their "need for speed", in a reduced risk environment with impact barriers and many other safety enhancements. This decreases the number of people trying to do this on open roads.

2. Knowledge & Skill: The motorcycle community grows, and within that community, road safety education grows. All racers must be a member of a motorcycle club (our partnered club in Bermuda is BMRA). In order to race, prospects must achieve top ranking in club contests. This means that the community grows and develops, passing on safety knowledge and skill sets to members and their friends. Bottom line, more people in Bermuda will be more proficient drivers.

3. Credible Ambassadors: Successful racers become high profile role models, national heroes who hold influence within the youth community that need to hear the road safety message. These influencers actively deliver the message of responsible driving with more impact than the Police or other authorities can manage. The racers are the right people to send that message, and they have a public platform.

4. Infrastructure: Wherever there is a big race event with millions watching, infrastructure improves. In Bermuda it was noted with the 2017 America's Cup, and with the ITU Triathlon. Improved road paving, modern technology, more thought and attention to detail in the everyday upkeep of the roads. Safer roads.

5. Police in the community: The North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT have a strategic Police presence at their race events. They work alongside the promotion, offering engaging services such as rider training. They also run several activities designed to appeal to children, and help to get the right road safety values instilled from an early age.

6. Incentivized Behaviors: The Bermuda Charge encompasses a rule which will improve driving behaviour and road safety in Bermuda. Applicants are required to present a traffic record. Riders who do not have a satisfactory record on their driving licence (during the 6 month period leading up to the race) will not be accepted.

Encourages young local riders, who have just qualified for their licence, to use the privilege carefully should they aspire to transition to road racing at the entry level age of 21.
Riders who have already achieved a road racing permit will risk having it revoked.
Deters race prospects from testing their skills on public roads.

The Bermuda Charge will also actively encourage road safety groups, advanced riding schools and youth riding schools to have a presence at the Race Village during the event. It is in the interests of everyone involved to use this public platform to deliver road safety education. We have consulted with the Road Safety Council, Bermuda Motorcycling Academy and Drive for Change to align our objectives.