After the rain postponed scheduled 4th round of the 2012 MRA Ulster Championships, the NAMC&CC (ORS) now promote the penultimate round of the Championships on their new date of 21st July 2012.
The Championships arrive at Tandragee Motocross Park with everything to play for, in the Norman Watt Premier MX1 Class, Ballygowan man Gary Gibson on the Bannside Suzuki leads the field, his hard work over the winter, and his self proclaimed lifestyle changes brought on by his ‘nearly man’ reputaion have breathed new life into the youngster, and he holds a 16 point lead over defending Champion, Richard Bird, from Lisburn is a further 29 points adrift in third on his Suitor Bros/Watt KTM, his form improved after impressive runs at the last two rounds at Tinker Hill and Donemana.
Third, after a courageous ride at Donemana two weeks after breaking his collar bone is Combers Wayne Garrett on the JAR Honda only nine points adrift.
Fourth and fifth are the AJ Plumbing KTM team mates of Jason Garrett from Comber, and Davy Gorman from Dromore, Jason, unhappy with his form after his nasty crash last year, holds 4th, but Davy did not compete at Tinker Hill after a first race crash left him feeling very second hand!
Sixth is Larne man Nial McAuley on the Suitor Bros Watt KTM, a super result from a hard working rider.
In the Nutt Travel.com Premier MX2 Class, after his super result at Tinker Hill where Loughbricklands John Meara on his TMC Honda turned a 41 point deficit into a 5 point lead in one afternoon, John crasehd at the MAXXIS British Championship at Desertmartin and dislocated his shoulder, he turned up at Donemana to spectate, but borrowed a bike and gear and rode for points, and although he has sliped to third in the Championship, he is only two points off the lead.
Jim O’Neill from Wexford leads now and is chased by teenager Glenn McCormick on his Agnew Recovery Watt Kawasaki, gaining in confidence after his first Ulster Championship race win on the four stroke, the Glenoe lad will be a strong contender at Tandragee.
Ryan Adair from Dromara is only 12 points behind in 4th on the Adair Electrics Suzuki, with youngster Jordan Keogh from Dublin 5th, sixth and losing ground is Larnes Michael McCammond on the JAR Honda after a nil score at Donemana.
In the Laverty Motocross/Glenhead Engineering Semi Expert MX1 class, Stewartsown charger Donal Teague holds a commanding 74 point lead over Hillsboroughs Steven Megarry, Gareth Knox, from Lurgan runs third on his returnd season to motocross after a few years racing Supermoto, Hillsboroughs Darren Bradford lies fourth after missing the first two rounds, but he has 3 wins from his six starts so far, and near neighbours from Kells Ryan Fenton and Clifford Wilson round out the top six.
The Core Drilling Semi Expert MX2 is a much closer affair with Connor Campbell on his Monster Energy Cosworth Yamaha by 15 points from Dunadry teenager Jordan McClelland on his Samsung Yamaha, only 2 behind is Dromara 15 year old Stuart Fee on his little 125cc KTM, the race seems to be on for fourth with Ian Jones, Ben Mottram and Mark Patterson battling over this place only a few points apart.
The Russells Motorcycles MX1 Clubmans class has produced some of the closest racing seen anywhere on the island this year, the championship is led by Paul Atkinson on his KTM, with youngster Scott Leaney on his Honda from Saintfield points behind.
Third is Colm McMullan from Ballymoney, fourth Gareth Mulligan from Laurelvale from Laurelvale, fifth Barry Dummigan, another NAMC&CC (ORS) and sixth, is Saintfield man Andrew McKibben.
In the Spence Racing Clubman MX2 class, there is a 3 man battle here between Andrew Megarry from Hillsborough, closely followed by Ian Moore and Lisburns Andre Blakely, Waringstowns Stephen White and Chris Simms from Lurgan, and Colm Gardiner aren’t too far off the pace either, so expect close racing here too.
Racing begins at 11.00am, entry is £5.00 for adults and under 14’s are free, there are three races per class, so there will be plenty to see for all the family .
The track is on the Tamnamore Rd near Laurelvale, postcode BT62 2LS for those with sat navs, but signposts will be posted on the main Portadown to Tandragee road.
Malcolm Beattie
BTMX Media
MRA Press Officer
Image: On the Edge Media