The organisers of this year's Vauxhall In📖ternational North🐈 West 200 have waived entry fees in an effort to alleviate the financial strain on competitors.

The d𒅌ecision will be of particular benefit to those riders who do not have the support of big-name sponsors or teams operating on a shoestring budget.

In the past, comp🌌etitors have been required t♋o stump up ?100 to enter each race.

A tota𓃲l of eight races will be held at the event in Northern Ireland this year, with three events - the first Superstock, Supersport and Supertwin races on the Thursday of race week, May 16 plus a further five races on main race day, Saturday, May 18.

North West 200 Event director, Mervyn Whyte, said the organising Coleraine and District Motor Club was "aware of the pressure facing rider💃s" at present.

"The Coleraine and District Motor Club Ltd ar💦e very aware of𓂃 the pressures facing riders at the moment as they struggle to find the sponsorship and support to get to the grid," said Whyte.

"We have tried t🌸o take a positive step that will make it easier for everyone to race at this year's North West."

Ryan Farquhar, who has retired from ro🌃ad racing but will run a team in 2013, described the decision as "rℱeally good news".

"I was talking to Mervyn about🌳💙 this a while back and it's really good news for the lads competing further down the field," Farquhar told the Belfast News Letter.

"They are the ones who would've been paying entries in the pastꦺ, so it's a big benefit to them.

"You take a lad who's maybe💯 only riding a Supertwin at the North West and is only getting two runs out there and has no chance of getting any prize money - it's a big help to someone like that.

"It's a decision that will definitely ap⛎peal to a lot of lads and it's a good help."

A number of new regulations will come into place at the ༺North West 200 tꦏhis year to bring the meeting in line with FIM rules.

These include a requirement for all riders to fix front brake lever guards on their mac𓆉hines to prevent against a competitor's brake lever being inadvertently pressed by another competitor durin💮g racing.

Rear brake lights will alsoꦬ be mandatory during wet races or races held in low visibility on the dire🌱ction of the clerk of the course.

Although 17-inch wheels will become a compulsory requirement f🐟or Superbikes next in 2014, riders can choose between 16.5 or 17-inch wheels this year.

The 2013 North West 200 runs from May 12-18.