It made just a quick appearance in the road racing world, but it was sad enough: Ballybunion Road Race, in Co. Kerry in Ireland, was organized for the first and only time in September 2005.
Ballybunion Road Race, in fact, is sadly known for the death of one of the most loved road racers at the time, Richard 
Britton, who crashed on the first lap of the 250cc Race when his Honda seized as he was retiring from the race for a technical problem.
English rider brought up in Enniskillen, Richard was survived by his wife and little son Loris, named after the Italian champion Loris Capirossi; Loris is nowadays entering the motorcycle racing world following his dad’s footsteps.
Britton, described by many as a ‘genuine human being’, won the Production Race at the 2000 North West 200 and achieved podium finishes in road races like Isle of Man TT and Ulster GP.
On that 18th of September 2005, Ballybunion Road Races organizers (the same of the Athea event) soon understood the seriousness of Britton’s crash and the meeting was immediately abandoned.
Britton’s death hit the road racing world dramatically; even the famous PJ O’Kane, loyal sponsor of riders like Robert Dunlop and Britton himself, called for road racing to be banned.
After this sad taste, Ballybunion Road Race was never organized again.
