The fifth round of the Maxxis British Motocross Championship called to Desertmartin on Sunday, June 24. A premier fixture on the Irish motocross calendar, the event is regarded as the single most important race of the year for both competitors and spectators alike. We take a look back at the day that was with a slightly different view than just your normal race report…
1. Graeme Irwin (Yamaha) – 4th MX2
A home race can add a lot of pressure. It’s the only race of the year that matters the most – both to you and the loyal fans that come to support you. It’s the one you want to win most. And while Emberson Yamaha’s Graeme Irwin didn’t get that victory he dearly wanted, he did ride with his heart on his sleeve. A second place in race one backed up with a pair of fourths in the final two races left Irwin a fantastic fourth overall and just four points shy of the podium. Here all eyes are fixed on Graeme as he chases down his French teammate Steven Lenoir.
2. Martin Barr (Suzuki) – 2nd MX2
Unfortunately Martin didn’t win, Kevin Strijbos was just too good. Maybe that was too big of an ask for the man from Larne considering he had only spent a few short weeks on the TYCO by TAS Suzuki. But he did win the respect from just about everybody in the paddock. After a lacklustre and frustrating start to his year on green machinery, Barr put his season firmly back on track by finishing second overall. Not even a penalty during qualifying that left him with a second-to-last choice of the start gate could hold him back as Barr racked up a pair of seconds and one third place finish.
3. John Meara (Honda) – 26th MX2
John Meara coped admirably in MX2. In a class stacked with talent, the young kid from Loughbrickland held his own until he fell foul of the red sands of Porters Pit. Unfortunately the record books fail to show the effort put in by the Honda rider but for what he did achieve he can be proud of that at least.
4. Stuart Edmonds (Suzuki) – 5th MX2
I liked this photo, not because of it’s quality – to be honest it isn’t that good – but because it captures passion. Not from the rider – of which there was plenty – but from those cheering him on. Dressed in blue and centre shot is the guy for whom Stuart raced for during 2011 and he’s cheering his nuts off. Sometimes it doesn’t matter who you ride for or what colours you wear. When passion takes over you just want ‘your’ guy to do good.
Locking down a spine tingling fifth overall, Stuart did exactly that…
5. Elliot Banks Browne (KTM) – 2nd MX2
Banks Browne looked a cert for the overall spot in MX2 until a crash in the final race put paid to his aspirations. Edging out a clear and definite lead, the KTM rider became another victim of the hi-speed track. Lucky to escaped relatively unscathed, he soldiered home to pick up some crucial and valuable points maintaining his points lead over nearest rival Mel Pocock (Yamaha).
6. Gary Gibson (Suzuki) – 22nd MX1
Ulster’s own Gary Gibson (front row, centre) isn’t afraid to hang it out with the top dogs of British motocross. After fearlessly carving a line through the first corner, he battled hard with the main protagonists and looked capable of locking down a career best top ten result. However, a monumental crash during the halfway point of the race ruled him out of contention. Here, both Martin Barr and Richard Bird shadow him closely as the Irish trio fill the top eight spots of the frame.
(Unfortunately I missed the start of race three of MX1 though luckily I had the sense to leave my camera in the capable hands of Ryan Callaghan to capture this shot. Thanks dude!)
7. Glenn McCormick (Kawasaki) – 11th MXY2
On the big stage, in front of his home crowd Kawasaki’s Glenn McCormick acquitted himself well. Unfazed by the status of the occasion, McCormick produced some exceptional results in MXY2. Eleventh in race one he went two places better to finish ninth in race two.
8. Media – Paddock
There were plenty of media folk on hand running here, there and everywhere to capture all the action of the day. In between races Scotsman Bryan MacKenzie takes time out to peer into a camera lens and presumably chat about Iron Bru and all things Scottish.
9. Natalie Kane (KTM) – MX2
Natalie Kane didn’t have the results she’d hoped for. Running as high as 19th overall in race one was about as good as it would get until technical issues hampered her day.
10. TM – Paddock
I like this because it’s cool. A little bit of old versus new, though thankfully it remained firmly planted in the paddock underneath the awning.
Images & Text ©Robert Lynn – so don’t be stealing ’em…