Knock Motorcycle & Car Club Ltd promotes the 5th round of the 2012 Irish Motocross Championships on Saturday 14th July at Seaforde Co. Down.
This marks the start of the second half of the 2012 Irish motocross championships as well as the Knock Clubs 63rd Tommy Stewart Memorial Motocross..
Seaforde motocross park is the club’s traditional venue for the July holiday motocross this year there has been a major change to the circuit, running the opposite direction enhancing the track for competitors, racing and spectators.
This year’s entry list includes all the main championship contenders in all classes.
There will be the four main Irish championship classess; Expert, Semi Expert, Clubman’s Mx1 & Clubman’s Mx2. Within the Expert & Semi Expert races points are warded to the different Mx1 & Mx2 championship categories.
In the Blue ribbon Expert Mx1 championship Wayne Garrett from Comber leads on 257 points with a 25 point advantage over the Gary Gibson from Ballygowan. Third place is a battle of the 2011 Champions. Tied on 206 points is the Ulster Mx1 Champion Richard Bird from Lisburn and Irish Mx2 Champion Michael Mahon from Dublin who moved classes this year. Defending Mx1 Irish Champion Tommy Merton is entered and hopes to move up the championship table after missing the early rounds with injury.
The Expert Mx2 class is headed by John Meara from Loughbrickland on 261 points; from Michael McCammond from Ballyclare on 225 points while in third place is Glen McCormick with 205 points. John is in danger of losing his lead as he is battling to be fit for Saturday’s event.
This will be the 63rd Tommy Stewart Memorial motocross and awarded to the Expert class overall winner. Last year’s winner Richard Bird would dearly like to retain the oldest trophy in Irish Motocross. First awarded in 1949 in Mullusk before moving to the Crossgar/Seaforde area in 1952
Moving to the Semi Expert Mx1 Donal Teague from Coalisland leads the class on 287 points then Darren Bradford from Lisburn on 242 points and Chris Lynd from Larne 208 points.
Semi Expert Mx2 is a closely contested class with Stuart Fee from Dromara on 252 points pulling a 39 point advantage over Larne’s Connor Campbell on 213 points. With inform Jordon McCelland from Dunadry on 170 points wanting score well to reduce the advantage of these fast starting teenagers.
In the popular Clubman’s classes the championships are equally sought after.
Clubman’s Mx1 is headed by Gareth Mulligan from Portadown on 257 points with Paul Atkinson just 2 point behind on 255 points and Scott Leaney from Lisburn on 197 points hopes to close the gap on the leaders.
Mx2 Clubman’s class it is run away leader Andre Blakley from Ballynahinch on 291 points from Kris Rea from Ballyclare on 212 points followed by Keith Redmond from Dromara on 154 points. Kris Rea is the brother of Honda World Superbike rider Jonathan Rea and is ultra keen to make up ground on championship leader Andre.
Racing will start around 11.00 on Saturday morning and the track is situated near Seaforde.
It will be sign posted from the Main A24 Newcastle Road at the Butterfly farm. Turn into the Cottage Road go to the end turn left, follow the Seaforde Road. After ½ a mile take the first on the left onto the Drumgooland Road Track is ¾ mile on the right from the junction. There are other routes but if you could follow this route it will facilitate traffic flow.
Entry will be £5.00 per adult, children under 14 free, and the track provides excellent viewing with 90% of the circuit able to be viewed from the main spectator area, so come along for a value for money day out for all the family
There will be three races for each of the four groups, promising a full day of thrills and spills that make motocross an amazing sport to watch.