And They're Off!

By TMX Archives on 20th Apr 06

Motocross

Words by Stevie Mills Photo by BikeArtThank goodness, it's here! There are only so many prize-givings, celebrity award parties and industry nights out that a mere mortal with only one liver can attend during the off-season so it's with Words by Stevie Mills Photo by BikeArtThank goodness, it's here! There are only so many prize-givings, celebrity award parties and industry nights out that a mere mortal with only one liver can attend during the off-season so it's with great pleasure that I can officially announce that the 2006 Irish MX season has started!The traditional March Hare Motocross was cancelled due to the lack of life jackets available to the MRA (which of course must make it their fault) so the first wheels turned in earnest were at round one of the Ulster MX1 series. And what a day! We're talking 280 competitors, slick organising and it was even sunny.All eyes were on the Premier class which even during qualification was living up to the hype as McCullough crashed his KTM hard and Sinton continued to test KBC helmets to the limit. As the sun went down it was obvious that the battle for Martin Barr's crown will see a few new challengers.A name that will be part of the future of European MX - Martin Kohut - went 4-2-1 on the day to lead the Ulster series. This 17-year-old Slovakian rider is a guest of GOMX sponsor Barry Millar and Kohut plus his manager Igor and mechanic Joseph may base themselves in Ireland throughout the 2006 season.Robert Hamilton won the first two races before crashing out of the final outing so the top three after round one reads Kohut, Adam Lyons and Wayne Garrett.Back in the day when a twin-shock was a modern machine and not a cocktail in the coolest bar in town and Roger Harvey had a moustache that would have frightened even the fiercest of pirates one of the most prestigious events in the UK and Ireland was the John Donnelly Motocross which for over a decade attracted some of Europe's best riders. Well the Killinchy club, with fantastic financial support from Hogans Bar in Downpatrick, has lifted the John Donnelly back up to being one of the highlights of Irish MX.With 200 per win the three legs were always going to be hotly contested. And it was Kohut who won the silverware with Hamilton and Garrett filling the podium and indeed their pockets with the hard-earned Donnelly cash. If only the prize money could be same for all the Irish championship meetings - dream on!The British Maxxis series will provide a lot of interest this season and I was delighted to see that Gordon Crockard scored enough points to keep within sight of the leaders in the series opener. Martin Barr rode well on his Bike-It/Dixon Yamaha and Hammy scored his first ever MX1 British points in his first ever race on a big thumper. Ricky McKeown stunned everyone with his speed in qualification but was unable to translate this into points.The Irish GP is the subject of speculation at the moment. If the powers-that-be can come together to make this happen it will be a pleasure to watch the world's best ply their trade at Desertmartin for the second year in a row. And while I'm on the subject of GPs it's fair comment that Team Wulfsport Honda had a bad day at the office at Zolder - you should all be up to speed by now on what Gordy has to say on the matter but I will add that watching the first GP of the year was definitely not what the Crock Star had in mind.Entry forms are now available to download for the Polisport/MCCNI Summer SX series which will kick off on May 10 at Kirkland Moto Park. This series will again be an integral part of the Ballymoney Bike Fest week and will run in conjunction with the North West 200 Festival.The MotoX TV guys are currently in negotiation to broadcast the three-round SX series on their internet site and pro/celebrity mini-bike races will also be an added feature of the SX series this year. Watch this space for confirmed entries next month.

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