Young Caleb Ross from Ireland is very inexperienced when it comes to racing outside the country as he’s only ever done two or three races in the UK. He had the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands at the weekend to contest the Junior World Championship.
The track was brutal but Ross was able to qualify which is a fantastic achievement and great to see. In the second moto he was also battling against a Belgian and a Dutch rider who were born in the conditions so Ross clearly has some good potential for the future.
We caught up with Ross after the event to get his thoughts and more…
GateDrop: Caleb, obviously you got the opportunity this weekend to represent Ireland and not only that but you were able to qualify. How did it feel to qualify straight away? You are probably too young to realise but coming from Ireland and not having experience racing outside the country much before, that’s a big achievement…
Ross: Yeah, it was. It was hard to qualify because in practice I only got three laps because my bike wouldn’t start so I only had three laps and I just went out for a fast lap in the first two laps and I got a good time in and my time set for the rest of the session.
GateDrop: Coming from Ireland, how did you find the track? Nothing like that at home…
Ross: Yeah, the only other two tracks I’ve rode like it are Magilligan and Desertmartin but they were not as deep as that track here at Heerde.
GateDrop: How did you find it riding the deep conditions? I mean a lot of riders turn up and they want to go home again (laughs) but you seemed to enjoy it…
Ross: Yeah, it was tricky… It was very deep and rough. There was also lots of fast bikes out there and that was hard.
GateDrop: Racing against different competition, probably riders you don’t know much about, how did you find that because obviously you get used to racing the same competition at home all the time?
Ross: Yeah, it was different, but I was like I don’t know them so it’s just like new people that just race.
GateDrop: Coming into this I think you were riding on Wednesday, what track was that and how did you find that?
Ross: We were at the Voodoo Drome in the Netherlands and it was lashing there so it was really wet and deep.
GateDrop: Now you’ve experienced racing over here, I’m guessing you’ll want to come out here and race again, you might have to ask dad nicely if you can come back over (laughs). What’s your plans for now and the rest of the season? Just race at home?
Ross: Yeah, we might be able to do one more Bridgestone Masters or something.
GateDrop: I think you’ve only even did two or three races outside Ireland?
Ross: Yeah, I did one British on my auto and one British on my 65 there.
GateDrop: You’re pretty inexperienced then when it comes to racing outside Ireland so to come here and do what you’ve done it must feel amazing. How did the two motos go for you? In the first moto I think on the first lap you got stuck with another rider and you threw his bike on the ground and then the second moto the first couple of laps were clean…
Ross: Yeah, I think I crashed on the first lap, someone crashed in front of me, I got stuck and then I just got into a rhythm and just rode as fast as I could.
GateDrop: What’s it been like with the other Irish riders this weekend, good vibes, enjoying it?
Ross: Yeah, it’s been good. Yeah, now we will probably just race at home for the rest of the season and do that Bridgestone Masters too maybe.
