The organisers of this year's Vauxhall International North West 200 have waived entry fees in an effort♏ to alleviate the financial strain ⛎on competitors.

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

In the past, competitors have been required to stump up ?100 to ent꧒er each race.

A total 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 ꦡThursday 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 riders" at pr꧙esent.

"The Coleraine and District Motor Club Ltd are very aware of 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 to take a positive step that will make iღt easier for everyone to race at this year's North West."

Ryan Farquhar, who has retired from road racing but will run a team in 2013, described the decisio🍸n as "really 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,ꩲ" Farquhar told the Belfast News Letter.

"They are the ones who would've been paying e♊ntries in the past, 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 ge🍌tting 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 appeal to a lot of lads and it's ꦇa good h♉elp."

A number of new regulations will come into place at the North West 2💦00 this yearﷺ to bring the meeting in line with FIM rules.

These include a requirement for all riders to fix front brake lever guards on their machines to prevent against a competitor's brake lever being inadvertently pressed by another cཧompetitor during racing.

Rea♏r brake lights will also be mandatory duriꦬng wet races or races held in low visibility on the direction of the clerk of the course.

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

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