SX education!
By TMX Archives on 8th Jun 05
Round one of the Polisport Summer Supercross Challenge kicked of at Kirkland Moto Park in Ballymoney and it was a rip-roaring success with no quarter asked or given in all classes.The circuit was the most technical yet flowing supercross circuit Round one of the Polisport Summer Supercross Challenge kicked of at Kirkland Moto Park in Ballymoney and it was a rip-roaring success with no quarter asked or given in all classes.The circuit was the most technical yet flowing supercross circuit ever seen in Ireland and full credit must go to Phil and Dave McCullough, EHA, Allinghan Construction and the talented digger driver Mr Sean McLoughlin.MCCNI are to be congratulated on running another precision event. The 16-race programme was completed over two solid hours of racing and credit to the organisers for having two practice sessions per class.As expected the Pro class was exceptional - the young racers and spectators enjoyed watching the guys battling it out over the many jumps, step-ups and whoop sections that littered the track.When the dust settled it was Moto-One rider Neil McKeown who won from Wayne Garrett and Martin Barr who struggled to find grip on the little two-stroke Bike-it/ Dixon Yamaha.The race of the evening had to be the Russell's Motorcycles Dash for Cash - a two-lap race always brings an adrenaline rush and add a Le Mans sprint-to-your-steed start and the scene is set. With the prize money set at approximately 100 per minute's racing it was madness personified and had the crowd running from pillar to post. Red Bull/Honda BSB sensation Johnny Rea took a popular win from Barr and Steele."Man that was fantastic," said the man who sat on pole at last week's British BSB race in Ireland. Johnny is a talented all-round motorcyclist and still enjoys riding his Honda motocross machine as part of his training programme.Grands Prix may be off Gordon Crockard's diary for a while but Ireland's #1 motocross export was on hand to coach the top MCCNI/MRA youth 65cc riders at the first ever Red Bull MX Academy in the afternoon before the supercross event.Known world-wide for their athlete development skills, Red Bull have helped support and grow local talent such as Johnny Rea who was a multi youth motocross champion before graduating through the Red Bull Rookie programme.Over the summer months the top five MCCNI/MRA riders in each class will be invited to join Gordon for a free day's tuition as part of the SX series. "The kids seemed to enjoy themselves, they were very keen to learn and judging by the way they tackled the track in the evening they all went home happy with the experience," said Gordon. "It was good to be able to put some work into the kids. I'm unable to ride at the minute so I enjoyed the day, there are some fast youngsters coming through and I am looking forward to the next MX Academy."Cork City was the host for round two of the national championship series and to win overall at the Vernon Mount GP track you need more than just talent - great tyres and a bucket of luck come into play around the rock-filled circuit.The man on form - Moto-One Kawasaki rider Neil 'Lurch' McKeown - snatched the MX1 championship lead from Martin Barr as the Yamaha man slithered around on flat rubber in the final moto. McKeown's Moto-One team-mate Neil Thompson holds third in the series and was conscious not to take risks, bringing his machine home with three solid results.Defending champion Richard McKeown seems to have rediscovered the form that brought him his title, taking two wins in the MX1 class. Runner-up in '04, Mike Sinton also looked like he had found his form until a crash in the second moto ruined his overall result - although finishing second in the final outing was a good indication of what may lie ahead.The MX2 racing was, as always, a hotbed of fast and furious battles right through the pack. There are many youngsters wanting to make their mark while the established stars have the experience to win.GOMX/Russell's rider Robert Hamilton won two motos and now heads the Ulster and Irish MX2 title chase. Martin Barr was second overall while Richard McKeown kept the TAS flag flying - moving up to third in the championship and recording his first MX2 win so far this season.June 18 is a date not to be missed as Desertmartin is the place you need to be when British championship motocross returns to the ever-popular Porters Pit. With the British championship arguably being the best national series in Europe many GP runners will want a run out before the Grand Prix circus makes its debut at Desertmartin. In fact, don't be surprised to see a few superstar names making a guest appearance - but what about the home boys?Well it will be the turn of the new breed of racers to strut their stuff and all eyes will be on the Yamaha of Martin Barr who has ruffled a few feathers in this his maiden adult season. The talk is that young Martin may get a chance to swing his leg over the Crock Star's full-on rocketship 450 - should be very interesting stuff indeed.I'll put my neck on the line and predict that the man in question will step it up another level at Desertmartin - he gets stronger and more confident at every outing and it may be a tall order but a top 10 finish is just around the corner.Joining MB in the MX1 ranks will be Irish champ Rick McKeown and his brother Neil who pretty much know their way around the Desert and are no slouches either. Good points are on the cards for both local guys and Mike Sinton will be looking to score his first points in this year's British series - broken clutch lever or not!You've got to look to Tommy Merton and GOMX rider Robert Hamilton to make the running in the MX2 - both need to make their presence felt in this class. There will be no less than 10 Irish riders busting their jewels to make the grade and get behind the startgate come June 18 - the very least you can do is be there to support each and every one of them.See you at the Desert...Words by Steve Mills Photo by Geoff Campbell