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

The decision will be of particular benefit to th💖ose riders who do not have the support of big-name sponsors👍 or teams operating on a shoestring budget.

In the p﷽ast, competitors have been required ♔to stump up ?100 to enter 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 Thursday of race week, May 16 plus a further five races on main race day, Saturday, May 18.

North West 200 Even🧔♔t director, Mervyn Whyte, said the organising Coleraine and District Motor Club was "aware of the pressure facing riders" at present.

"The Coleraine and District Motor Club Ltd are very aware of the pr🉐essures 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 step꧙ that w𝓰ill make it easier for everyone to race at this year's North West."

Ryan Farquhar, who has re♕tired from road racing but will run 🐓a team in 2013, described the decision as "really good news".

"I was tal🎉king 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 wo🐼uld've been paying entries 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 getting two runs out there and has no chance of getting any prize money - it's a big help tꦬo someone like that.

"It's a decision that will definitely appea🦩l t🌱o a lot of lads and it's a good help."

A number of new r𓆉egulations will come into place at the North West 200 this year to bring the meeting in line with FIM rules꧟.

Thes🏅e 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 competitor during racing.

Rear brake lights will also be mand♎atory during wet races or races held in low visibility on the direction of the clerk of the course.

Although 17-inch wheels will bec🍨ome a compulsory requirement for Superbikes next iꦡn 2014, riders can choose between 16.5 or 17-inch wheels this year.

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