The organisers of the Festival of Jurby say the event will not be returning next year.

The Vintage Motorcycle Club cited ’additional uncertainties with insurance for any non-Manx riders’ and legal advice for the reasons behind the cancellation.

The festival has proved popular during the annual Manx Grand Prix, with numbers increasing year on year since it was first held in 2009.

The 2019 festival saw thousands of people descend on Jurby including fans and TT racing legends such as John McGuinness and Giacomo Agostini.

A statement from the organising committee reads: ’Of course, an event of this scale takes a tremendous amount of organisation, which for many years has been done by a small committee getting together just weeks after the previous event took place to start gearing up for the next summer.

’However, after being in position since the festival was established in 2009, a number of the organising committee have made the tough decision to stand down.’

The statement continues: ’As the event grows, we are seeing heavier regulation come into effect, and responsibilities grow to surpass the capability of the small team that organises the event.

’Keeping riders safe is our utmost concern and in the current climate we’re facing additional uncertainties with insurance for any non-Manx riders given changes to EU medical cards.

’Consequently, and pending professional advice, the committee has reluctantly, and with regret, decided to suspend the festival until further notice.

’The Vintage Motorcycle Club has always looked at ways to promote the island’s strong history with motorcycling and the tremendous machines many of our members lovingly restore and care for, and for the past decade of the Festival of Jurby has celebrated this perfectly.’

The statement concludes: ’Our commitment to promoting vintage motorbikes on and off island remains as strong as ever, and the committee with be continuing with the many events we organise throughout the year, including the Manx Rally, however this is a perfect time to reflect and refocus our efforts to look at new events.’

A Department for Enterprise spokesman said: ’The department has been aware that the VMCC organising committee had concerns about the increasing demands the event was placing on them as individuals, as the event has grown in both size and stature.

’The committee met with the department prior to this year’s Festival of Motorcycling and agreed to meet again immediately afterwards to discuss the future of the Jurby event and the possibility of the department becoming more involved.

’This meeting was scheduled for early in September, but the club asked for a postponement until early October in order to allow them time to consider the future of the event and their plans.

’Whilst individual committee members have taken the decision to stand down, suspending the event as a result, the department is still committed to working with the club to develop the event for the future.’

The spokesman added: ’Should the club decide that they no longer wish to run the Festival of Jurby, the department remains grateful to the club and especially those individuals who have worked so hard to create such a popular event and will continue to work with the club and other private organisations and individuals to deliver a strong visitor experience during the Festival of Motorcycling.’