Kawasaki’s Donal Teague secures the first Ulster Championship of 2012 as he wraps up the Semi Expert MX1 class at the penultimate round of the season in Tandragee…
The re arranged North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club (Off Road Section) Ulster Motocross Championship Round got under way on 21st July under a cloudy, but dry sky. The track was prepared to its usual high standard, and with the Club festooning the circuit with banners, and a hospitality marquee, there was a sense of occasion on the day, which the racing certainly lived up to.
In the Norman Watt Premier MX1 Class, Championship leader, Ballygowans Gary Gibson on his Bannside Pallets Suzuki lost his lead after a second race crash caused a non finish and injured his hand, leaving Championship rival Combers Wayne Garrett on his JAR Honda to assume the Championship lead with one round left, a remarkable feat with a broken collar bone sustained less than a month ago.
Defending Champion Richard Bird was unable to defend his title as he has broken his scaphoid and was absent from the race, his third place has now been overhauled by Jason Garrett on his AJ Plumbing KTM, with team mate Dromore man Davy Gorman fifth. Second on the day was Tommy Merton on his No Fear Watt Kawasaki, showing a return to form at the fast Tandragee circuit.
In the Nutt Travel MX2 Premier class, another injured rider, John Meara had a clean sweep of wins on the TMC Honda to take the top slot going into the last round, the Loughbrickland teenager carrying a dislocated shoulder sustained at the MAXXIS British Championship at Desertmartin last month, Championship rivals and near neighbours Michael McCammond from Larne on his JAR Honda, and Glenoes Glenn McCormick on his Agnew Recovery Watt Kawasaki followed John home to round out the podium. This leaves the Championship table looking like a fight between Meara, McCormick and Jim O’Neill from Wexford at next week’s decider.
In the Laverty MX/Glenhead Engineering Semi Expert MX1 Class, the first Champion of 2012 was crowned with Stewartstowns Donal Teague winning the class with two wins and a second at the circuit where he claimed his first Grade C title in 2007, Donal was delighted to be able to celebrate at the podium ceremony organised by the NAMC&CC. Runner up on the day was Matthew Sinton on his home track, with Meghaberrys Darren Bradford third after having to borrow a bike for the last two races. In the Championship, the race is still on between Bradford, Lurgans Gareth Knox, and Hillsboroughs Stephen Megarry for second.
In the Core Drilling Semi Expert MX2 Class, the best racing all day was between the two Coupe de 85 team mates from Belgium last year, Loughbricklands Jason Meara on the TMC Honda, and Stuart Fee on the Fee Engineering 125 KTM, with Meara winning the battle of the 15 year olds with two wins and a second, the power of the four stroke maybe too much round the fast Tandragee circuit.
Third overall on the day was Dunadry teen, Jordan McClelland on the Samsung Yamaha, with Darren Grills from Carrickfergus a notable fourth on his KTM.
In the Championship, the fight remains between McClelland, Fee and Connor Campbell from Larne, all three teenagers fighting tooth and nail all season.
The Spence Racing Clubman’s MX2 class was won overall by Hillsborough man Andy Megarry on his 125 KTM, followed by Moiras Chris Simms, and Dromores Anthony Lyle, this leaves Megarry going into the last round with a healthy lead over Ian Moore and Andre Blakely.
The Russell’s Motorcycles Clubman MX1 class produced two wins and a fourth for Saintfields Scott Leaney on his Honda, with Championship leader Paul Atkinson from Ballyclare second, and Moiras Jordan Blakely third, this leaves Leaney with a slender lead over Atkinson going into the last round, with Laurelvales Gareth Mulligan and Colm McMullan fighting for third in the Championship.
A great days racing at a well prepared track left the riders going home happy, but tired after a hard days racing, the final round is at Tinker Hill Newry on 28th July, promoted by Quad Racing Ireland.
Malcolm Beattie
NAMC&CC ORS Press Officer
BTMXMedia
Images: Alan Gardner/ On the Edge Media