It’s promising to be a busy old weekend for the final one of August. We’ve got the Irish Enduro Championship rattling through the forestry in Cork while the motocross muts pop their limiters up in Downpatrick Co Down for the star studded Brian Bell International…
So another week is nearly done and it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get stuck into the weekend! If two wheels and mud is your thing then you’re in luck as there is a lot going on either end of this wee island. First up is the return of the Irish Enduro championship. After a lengthy two-month break it’s finally time to break out the time cards and head on down to Killavullen near Mallow Co. Cork if your into riding forestry, mountains and that sort of thing. Regarded as quite possibly the best event on the calendar, the two-day in Cork can be a make-or-break race in the championship chase. With both days combined counting towards the Irish championship and separate points awarded each day towards the Southern Centre championship, it one important race to finish.
Out front, Paul McLoughlin heads the Expert class, he’s won both rounds of the Irish championship so far and come to think of it all the Southern Centre rounds too, which puts him on course for championship number two. Can the current champ continue to win or will he be challenged. Out to stop him, sits Mick O’Leary in second, the only other guy to grab a win this year. Can he reign McLoughlin in and make things interesting? Also in the mix will be local man, Paul McCarthy, recent silver medalist at the ISDE in Finland Sheamus Muldoon along with Phil Caldwell. In Seniors Richie Leonard tops the charts. After a somewhat shaky start, Richie is well and truly back on track, winning both Glendalough and Mt Leinster. He’s looking forward to getting stuck back into the enduro season but don’t take my word for it check out his recent interview. In the hunt for wins, Dano Curren is another guy to look out for. David McNulty is starting to hit top form. After switching from four to 2-stroke machinery, McNulty has picked off strong rides at some of the recent sprint enduros, so expect a tough fight all weekend long in Seniors. So far it’s Johnnie Mercier that’s proven unbeatable in Clubman. Winning all events to date, Mercier will be intent on keeping the streak alive in Cork.
If you can’t make all that and would rather see some bar-bangin’ motocross action then get yourself up to the other end of the country to Downpatrick, Co Down for the Brian Bell International. And what a race it is beginning to promise to be! With a line up of riders that includes a list of who’s who on the World Motocross Championship stage pitted against the best of Ireland’s homegrown heros there bound to be some of the best racing to be witnessed this year. To date the entry list is looking good, Michael Pichon, Jonathan Barrigan, Antoni Bossiere, Nicholas Aubin, Greg Aranda, Jake Nicholls, Zac Osbourne and Milko Potiesk to name but a few will be throwing down the whips, scrubs and the odd skid or two against our very own Gordon Crockard, Tommy Merton, Robert Hamilton, Richard Bird and the like. Throw in a Friday’s retro twin-shock classic action and also some Evo class ‘pre 90’s racing on the Saturday then there is bound to be a lot going on on race day Saturday. Racing kicks off there on Saturday at 10.30am with the first drop of the International start gate at 12.30am.
Check out the press release here