The domestic motocross scene in Ulster springs to life with the traditional Easter Monday opening round at Desertmartin hosted by the Cookstown Club, writes Malcolm Beattie
After a successful start to the season at Downpatrick, Gordon Crockard will be hoping for a successful start to the Ulster Championship on his No Fear/Watt Kawasaki in the Norman Watt Premier MX1 Class. However, he will face some stiff opposition not just from the homegrown opposition, but also from Tyco by TAS Suzuki teamster, Stephen Sword. The Lockerbie man has ridden GP’s for Kawasaki, KTM & CCM, and like Gordon, has British Championships on his CV too, so this is an exciting addition to the entry for Monday.
Reigning champion, Richard Bird from Lisburn will also be out to defend his championship on his Suitor Brothers/Watt KTM. But in form at the moment Robert Hamilton on his G&G Ross Suzuki will be out to show that beating Crockard was no fluke at Downpatrick. The Portavogie man has shaken the flu that affected him at Downpatrick so will be a force to be reckoned with.
Multi Ulster Champion Wayne Garrett is still getting back to form after a long layoff due to injuries. He is coming back strong on the JAR Honda and with another good showing at Canada Heights for the Comber man he’s growing in confidence.
Fast Starting Davy Gorman on his AJ Plumbing KTM will put the Dromore man in contention, and Gary Gibson from Ballygowan on the Tyco by TAS Suzuki is as fast as anyone on his day, but sand is not his best surface.
Tyco by Tas Suzuki Stuart Edmonds will be gunning for glory on Monday
Running concurrently with the MX1 bikes in the new format, the Nutt Travel.com Premier MX2 class produced some exciting racing at Downpatrick. Stuart Edmonds on his Tyco by TAS Suzuki will be hoping to finish all three races on Monday after machine failure let prevented a clean sweep at Downpatrick. Greysteels Ed Allingham on his EHA KTM will be hoping to spoil Stuarts day on his favourite track, but Michael McCammond is no slouch on sand either and the JAR Honda rider is impressive this year.
Youngsters such as Glenoes Glenn McCormick on the Agnew Recovery/Watt Kawasaki, Wexford Jim O’Neill on his Suzuki, Dromaras Ryan Adair on the Adair Electrics Suzuki and Drew Goudy on his Suitor Brothers/Watt KTM will be hoping to make their mark too.
Laverty MX & Glenhead Engineering return as sponsors of the Semi Expert MX1 Championship, and at Downpatrick this class produced a tie between Stewartstowns finest, Donal Teague on his Kawasaki, and Crossgars Mark Patterson on his Suitor Bros/Watt KTM, however, Hillsborough’s Darren Bradford on his Kawasaki, Joel Brown on the KTM, and Gareth White from Comber should all be in the front runners.
The Semi Expert MX2’s supported by Bore a Hole Core Drilling should produce the race of the day with Dromara teenager Stuart Fee on his Fee Engineering 125cc KTM up against the 250cc machines of the rest of the pack, including Killyleaghs Jordan Martin and Larnes Connor Campbell on their Cosworth Monster Energy Yamahas, young MCI rider Stephen Kelly also showed well at Downpatrick, as well as Ben Mottram on the Agnew Recovery Yamaha, Kilkeels Chris Cully on the Bannside Pallets KTM and Mark Dougherty will also run well at the sandy circuit.
Russell’s Motorcycles Clubman’s MX1 should produce close racing, Gareth Mulligan from Laurelvale, double winner at Downpatrick will be hoping to jump into the lead on Monday on his Honda, and however, Paul Atkinson, Jordan Blakely and Scott Leaney will be out to stop him. A refreshing change in this class for 2012 is that these front runners are all young riders, a good sign for the future when young talent is taking to the big bikes.
The Spence Racing MX2 Clubman’s class should be a race between Anthony Lyle and Andrew Blakely on form from Downpatrick, but Steven Gill, Kristofer Rea and Don Murray won’t be too far away.
Racing starts at 11.00 and there are three races per class, entry is £5.00 and under 14’s free. The circuit is situated between Desertmartin village and Draperstown and is well worth a family day out.
Malcolm Beattie
MRA Press Officer