The MCUI Motocross Commission have announced their selection for the 2012 Motocross of Nations team to represent the Ireland at the Belgian circuit of Lommel in September 2012.
The team will consist of:
MX1 Class, Martin Barr, the Ballyclare rider competing for TAS Suzuki in the MAXXIS British Motocross Championships, and the Red Bull Pro Nationals, Martin finished third in the MX1 Class in 2011. Martin is currently 5th in the MAXXIS Championship and is in good form on the Tyco TAS Suzuki, he has been a mainstay of the team since his sensational debut in the epic 2005 event in France, and will give his all as usual.
MX2 Class, Graeme Irwin, the young Carrickfergus star will ride his Race FX/Samsung Yamaha in Belgium, his first appearence on the team since 2009 in Italy as injury has made him unavailable since then. Graeme is currently joint 5th in the MAXXIS British Motocross Championship MX2 class, and with his exuberant riding style, and never say die attitude, he will be a great asset to the team in the deep sand of Lommel.
Open Class, Stuart Edmonds, riding now for the Tyco TAS Suzuki team after many years on the Italian TM marque, the fast Dubliner makes his 4th appearence at the Motocross of Nations in Belgium, currently 9th in the MAXXIS British Championship, Stuart is always immensely proud to be selected to represent Team Ireland and his determination and work ethic means he always delivers at the event, his riding in France last year was a revelation to many, but not to those who follow the sport closely.
Reserve rider will be Wayne Garrett, the JAR Honda rider clinched the Ulster Motocross Championship last weekend at Tinker Hill and has shown remarkable resilience coming back from horrible leg injuries last year, and a broken collar bone five weeks ago.
Team Manager will be Laurence Spence, the ex factory rider and Grand Prix competitor in his second year as manager, uses all his experience and skills to manage the riders and mould them into a team in a very short time, he will be hoping for an easier qualification this year in the deep sand of Lommel, in the north of Belgium.
Favourites for the event will of course be reigning Champions Team USA, but Belgium will be hoping for a win on home soil, with Italy, France and Germany also in the running with very powerful teams, and USA having no circuit with the deep, bottomless sand of Lommel in America, this could be the year that the USA win streak stops, they are unbeaten since Zolder in Belgium in 2003, this is truly a USA versus rest of the World event, and Team Ireland should be able to score a surprising result if the riders perform at their best.
Malcolm Beattie
MRA Press Officer
MRA Press Officer
Image: Alan Gardner / On the Edge Media