Sick list!
By TMX Archives on 12th May 05
With only one round of the Irish championship run additions to the injury list have already knocked several of the top runners' title hopes for six. With only one round of the Irish championship run additions to the injury list have already knocked several of the top runners' title hopes for six. Adam Lyons, fresh from the operating theatre, is on the road to recovery while the man on a mission - Phil McCullough - is the latest of the stars to come unstuck. Let's hope he'll be back in the saddle before long. So much for 'the luck of the Irish'.Gordon Crockard seems to be getting battered from pillar to post with an endless stream of needling injuries, which may be part of the reason why we've seen so little of the Crock Star so far this season. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for the big man - this was going to be his year, he has the talent and machinery to match his burning ambition to take it to the world's best but that 'game plan' has gone out the window.Life has the ability to kick you in the nuts when you least expect it and the more times it happens the harder it is to get up, dust yourself down and get motivated to start all over again. It takes more than guts, determination and support from friends and family - it needs something special and I believe that something special will lift Gordy back to where he belongs before the end of the season.And what an end of season it would be to have Crockard battling with Everts and co around Desertmartin. Yes, MX1 and MX2 is coming back to Ireland in 2005. Promoters of the GP will be Damien Fleming of Schism Promotions - so clear your diary for the weekend of September 16-17.Desertmartin is no stranger to top-flight international events and the Cookstown club will host and run the GP in exactly the same manner as they have done their British championship round for the last few years. In fact, you can be sure this will be the best-run GP in 2005. So there you have it Gordon my man, that can be your new goal and motivation - to be the best you can for the home GP.Meanwhile, back at the ranch the young guns are taking full advantage of the established riders' misfortunes. They're also taking the lion's share of the spoils - Martin Barr and Shaun Simpson being the two riders doing all the winning.The second round of the Ulster Premier championship on May Day was a great success and the Mourne club put in the work at the hillside Seaforde circuit, attracting a large crowd that was treated to some spectacular racing in all classes.Without a doubt the pace in the premier class has gone up two notches and only McC has the pace needed to try to work with Barr and Simpson. It's a pleasure to watch these two young stars of the future perform. Unlike some of the fast guys of old, these two young men have developed track craft, patience and have the ability to switch on to a faster pace on demand - they are far beyond their years.The internet was going mad with reports of how bad and dangerous the Seaforde track was supposed to be after the MCCNI ran a championship meeting on it a few weeks back and one youth rider was seriously hurt. Now that we are touching on the subject it lifted me to receive news from MCCNI secretary William Smyth that the youngster in question - Scott Bradley - has made such a good recovery. I guess he was in the prayers of a great many people - hope to see you at the races soon Scott.Back to the track... Yes, I would question the merit of putting that jump at the top of the start straight hill. The angle of it will cause you to receive medical attention if you try to ride it hard, so if its sole job is to make riders slow down then it works. Besides that, the Seaforde track was in super order and as always provided close racing. I'm looking forward to the Irish championship meeting there on June 25 - nothing at all to do with the hospitality tent!With the bright nights and blistering hot summer just around the corner (one can dream) comes the return of the Polisport SX series which will incorporate the Red Bull MX Academy. Red Bull support rider Gordon Crockard will host the academy of invited young stars who may just learn a few tips from the Crock Star.The MCCNI will run the series - limited to a 250F maximum capacity for the Pro class - that's attracted entries from all the top local racers with a few invited UK riders thrown in to the mix too.All youth classes are catered for and the organisers have secured some fantastic product support prizes for the youth riders from O'Neal, KBC, Alloy, Bridgestone, Polisport, Pro Clean and Moto-One.In the Pro Class it will be no quarter asked or given as they do battle for the 5000+ prize fund. Round one will be at Ballymoney on May 17 with Tandragee Moto Park hosting round two on June 15.See you at the races.Words by Steve Mills | photos by Sutty