Marin Barr on the hunt for Maxxis glory

By Sean Lawless on 21st Feb 18

British Motocross Championship Martin Barr

Martin Barr may be the veteran of the MX2 class this season but the 30-year-old showed at the recent Hawkstone International that hes got the speed to trouble even current world champion Pauls Jonass.

The Irishman has had a solid off-season with his new REVO Husqvarna UK team and is fighting fit heading into the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship where hes aiming to improve on last years runner-up position.

Im feeling really good, he said. Its a new bike and a new team for me and everyones been working really hard.Hawkstone went pretty good to finish second in the first race behind the world champion was an absolutely fantastic start for me.

Unfortunately, in the second race I had a little slip which mucked up an overall podium but looking at the bigger picture I came away knowing my pace is good so Im more than happy.

Handy A lot is made of the differences between European and Japanese machinery but Martins wealth of experience has come in handy after leaving the Buildbase Honda team at the end of last season.

Adapting to the Husqvarna hasnt been too bad for me, he said. Obviously, Ive been about for quite a few years and have ridden bikes from a few different manufacturers. With Scott (Gardner) from Planet Suspension doing my stuff it kinda worked out pretty good straight away and I felt comfortable he knows what I like and the way I like it so switching bikes has been relatively easy.

As part of his off-season programme, Martin was at Redsand in Spain before Christmas and when we spoke on Monday hed just got off a flight to Belgium ahead of a few days at Lommel.The team is brilliant.

Theyve had us here, there and everywhere and made sure weve had the right preparation for the season so a big thanks to them and my mechanic Dan and everybody around me. We all have that one goal at the end of the year and were all working hard towards it. Weve been putting the work in to try and make it happen.

Ive gained a lot of confidence from Hawkstone and Im looking forward to the first round of the British championship in a few weeks time. Its going to be a tough year with Conrad Mewse, Mel (Pocock) and a few other riders fired into the equation its going to be hard but its a challenge Im well up for.

Barr will be competing against some riders who are almost half his age but the prospect of being the class veteran doesnt bother him at all. Im the old boy in the class but Im probably feeling the best Ive ever felt. My fitness, my mental strength everything is clicking in at the minute. A lot of the young kids do get a bit wild at times but Ill be using my experience to try and be there or thereabouts every weekend at the end of the day age is only a number, its how you feel in yourself and Im feeling really good.

A former MXY2 champion, Martin has been one of the most consistent riders over the last decade and has his sights set on taking his first adult Maxxis title. Every year could be the year I win a British title its motocross and anything can happen but Ive been putting in the work just like every other year, Im feeling good, the teams behind me 100 per cent and everybody around me believes in me.

If Im winning races Ill just let that sort the championship out, if not I want to be as close to the front as I can and try and win the championship on my bad days.

Its going to be a tough year but its one Im really looking forward to. I came up short in the championship last year behind Ben Watson so it would be nice to get that No.1 plate.

Marin Barr on the hunt for Maxxis glory

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