Round six of the G&G Ross Irish Motocross Championship stopped off at the immaculately prepared Doon Motoparc along the Offaly border on Sunday 31st July for the final race of summer in 2011. After giving the long-standing circuit a thorough makeover prior to race day, the Fastlane MCC club offered up a course to meet everybody standards and one that tested both rider and machine attrition to their very limit. Although the weatherman’s predicted heatwave failed to deliver, the threatening rain clouds managed to stay at bay for the majority of the day.
"Hammy" was top dog on Sunday
With all eyes on Grade A, Sunday would become the day when the race to be champion would start afresh. With current runaway leader Wayne Garrett on the injury sidelines, the door was now firmly ajar for someone to take his place as championship leader. Although sat in fifth overall in the championship chase, G&G Ross Yamaha mounted Robert Hamilton wasted little time in making his charge. Grabbing the hole shot in race one, Hamilton set a pace that only Richard Bird could follow as the duo gapped the field. With Bird constantly applying the pressure, Hamilton eventually slipped up allowing Bird through for the win. Behind them, Tommy Merton maintained third spot throughout the race but was pushed all the way by John Meara, first of the MX2 brigade. After crashing on the opening lap championship contender David Gorman came as far back as Athlone to finish 14th at the flag. After a restart in race two, Hamilton again emerged from the gates in front and this time would not falter to the challenge of Bird as he gradually built up a sizeable gap to take the win. Bird maintained station for second while Meara again topped the MX2 with an excellent third overall. Merton faired worst of the restart and spent the majority of the race on a damage limitation exercise as he eventually worked his way back up to 10th. With a win a piece the overall was still all to play for and once again Hamilton got the drop on everyone else off the start. With Richard again in toe, it seemed the race would go down right to the wire but past the half way mark Hamilton had it covered and the win would be his. Bird would have to settle for second while Merton faired better this time out in third with Ross Brown fourth and Meara again topping MX2 in fifth.
Scott Hamilton scrubs his way to maximum points
With three wins from three starts, Scott Hamilton was the maximum man in Grade B. Behind him David Russell finished runner up, but gating badly he always had to work his way up through the field and by the time he had found his way to second, Hamilton was already gone. With a strong start in the final race, Russell finally had a shot of pushing him for the win. Upping their pace they broke away from Andrew Gill in third and with a lap to run Russell made a shot for the lead. Wasting no time, Scott passed him right back before David put his Honda back in front. But Hamilton was not done yet and with half a lap to go he fought his way past again and hung on to his third win of the day. Topping MX1 was David Dickson.
In Grade C MX1 Ray Brownlie was the man to beat as he wrapped up three comfortable wins. Ashley Allerton was on course for second overall but got caught out with the shortened final race dropping him to third overall. His loss was Chris Lappin’s gain as it bumped him up to second overall. Championship leader Martin Portis had a difficult day ending up fifth overall.
Chris Lappin put together a strong ride for second in Grade C MX1
Topping the charts in Grade C MX2 was the consistent performance of Andrew McKee. Second in the first two motos, banking the hole shot in the final race was enough to send him on his way for the final race win. Jason Martin was second with Jonathon O’Neill third.
Robert Hamilton (G&G Ross Yamaha): “Today was a really good day and I don’t think I could have asked for better. In the first race I was riding well but tensed up towards the end and began to struggle with arm pump. I made some mistakes and that was enough for Richard to get past. I gated really bad in the second race and was buried at the back of the pack but on the restart I managed to hole shot. I felt good and able to ride my own race. My starts were really good today and I hole shot again in the final race. Richard pushed me but I felt strong out front and was able to hold my pace to the flag. I felt good today, the track was awesome and I feel I’ve got the pace to make some ground back in this championship.”
Richard Bird (Bodytech KTM): The track was perfect, we couldn’t have really asked for better conditions. Robert and I had a tight fight in the opening race. Towards the end he made some mistakes with the back makers and I saw a gap and got through for the win. Unfortunately though he didn’t make the same mistakes again but I’m happy to have bagged some good points today. It’s unfortunate to see Wayne go out of the championship the way he did as he was the favourite to win it, but it’s tightened things up a lot now and with six races left anything can happen. I’m looking forward to Seaforde and the rest of the championship, my confidence is good and I’m riding strong.”
The G&G Ross Irish Motocross Championship continues on 10th September at Seaforde Co. Down, while the Fastlane MCC promote the second round of their Summer Series at Doon on August 7th.
Championship Standings after Round 6: G&G Ross Irish MX rd6