The third round of the Retink Irish Motocross Championship saw the new crop of teenage motocross riders come to the fore to challenge the ‘old guard’ with a super display of fast, hard charging, determined riding that belies their youth.
In the Premier MX1 Class, the usual suspects put on a fantastic show, just to show the youngsters what they have to do, with Wayne Garrett from Comber running out the winner overall with two wins and a fourth after a fall in race three which broke his clutch lever on the JAR Honda, the Comber man showing all his old form and confidence.
However, the rejuvenated Gary Gibson from Ballygowan on the TAS Tyco Suzuki, and Richard Bird from Lisburn on his Watt/Suitor Bros KTM kept Wayne honest. Richard led all three races for a while, but clutch troubles hampered him on the first two, but the third race was the race of the day, with all three big names in the hunt, with Gary running out the winner, with Richard runner up.
These three made up the overall podium, with Gary particularly happy with his win on sand, despite his reputation as a hard pack specialist. His winter training schedule is obviously paying off as the Ballygowan man is becoming a real threat on all surfaces.
Fourth was ever improving Michael Mahon from Dublin on the Vigors VMX KTM450, and defending Champion Tommy Merton having a subdued day in fifth, Tommy recovering from a dislocated shoulder rode steadily but cautiously by his standards.
Gary Gibson pushes hard for for victory in the final race
MX2 Premier Class was dominated by youngsters, with JAR Honda teamster Michael McCammond from Larne running out the overall winner, the Larne man joining his team mate on the top box. John Meara can count himself unlucky on the day, the Loughbrickland man heading for a first race win, tangled up with a backmarker with 4 laps to go, took forever to get the TMC Honda fired up, but still finished runner up to McCammond.
Third was a hard working Glenn McCormick on the Agnew Recovery/Watt Kawsaki, carrying a groin injury from a first race crash, Glenn finished third overall with gutsy rides from behind in all three braces, the Glenoe teen getting more confident on the four stroke every race.
Moira teenager Scott Hamilton continues to impress this year on his Tyco TAS Suzuki finished a fine fourth overall, with Dromaras Ryan Adair, yet another youngster showing promise, a fine fifth on the Adair Electrics Suzuki.
The Semi Expert MX1 Class was once again dominated by Stewartstowns Donal Teague, the youngster bringing the big Kawasaki home first in all three races, followed by the similar machine of Hillsborough’s Darren Bradford, third was Ballyclares Clifford Wilson.
Semi Expert MX2 riders dominated the overall races however, and once again, teenage riders were at the fore, with debut race winner Loughbricklands Jason Meara, two weeks after his 15th birthday winning race three on the TMC Honda to tie with fellow 15 year old Stuart Fee on his 125cc Fee Engineering KTM for the overall win, but Connor Campbell from Larne had terrible luck with two non finishes ruining his day following crashes and machine issues with his Monster Energy/Cosworth Yamaha, but fellow teen Dunadrys Jordan McClelland finished a great third overall on his Samsung Yamaha, and Ian Jones from Dublin on his Honda fourth.
Mention must be made of a debut race win for Carrickfergus youngster Darren Grills in race 2 on his KTM also.
Clubman MX1 produced the best racing all day, with all three race wins going down to the wire, Paul Atkinson took the overall with two seconds and a win, Scott Leaney was second with a win and two thirds, third was Alan Saunders with a win and two fourths.
Championship leader Gareth Mulligan came home fourth with steady rides all day.
Clubman MX2 was dominated once again by Lisburns Andre Blakeley with three wins, but Larne’s Kristofer Rea on the JAR Honda second and improving every race, third was Chris Simms.
A great days racing, well run by the Cookstown Club under sunny, but cold skies all day.
Words: Mal Beattie
Images: Colin Mcilhagger
Championship Standings (after round three):