Team Ireland are gearing up for the 2023 Coupe de l’Avenir this weekend with Wayne Garrett the new team manager after taking over the reigns from Mick McGinn. Garrett a multiple Irish and Ulster champion as well as racing the British Championship for many years as well as Irish GP’s and the MXoN – he knows a thing or two about the sport!
For the Coupe de l’Avenir this weekend, the Irish team is as follows:
65cc Class:
Ethan Gawley
Carter Williams
Jamie Larkin
85cc Class:
Kole Nally
Alfie Herron
Ollie Holland
U21 Class:
125cc Jack Meara
250cc Jake Farrelly
Open Nathan Green
We caught up with Garrett ahead of the event this weekend.
GateDrop: Wayne, this has been your first year as team manager for the Irish Coupe de l’Avenir team, how has it been putting everything together? I know there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that people never see…
Garrett: Yes, this is the first year for me doing it. There is a lot goes on behind the scenes, I guess that most people maybe over look, it involves a lot of phone calls, emails and trying to figure things out with it being the first time to make sure nothing is forgot about.
GateDrop: The selection process I think is slightly different than the MXoN where the riders get picked, for the Coupe de l’Avenir I believe riders have to register their interest then you pick the name based on who signs up… Can you talk me through the selection process?
Garrett: The selection is a little different, from past years it seems the best way to work things out for the Coupe de l’Avenir is by riders registering interest. That way you know they are keen to go or don’t have any other racing commitments or holidays etc booked.
GateDrop: I think you have experience of racing the Coupe de l’Avenir from the past, what do you remember from your time racing there? It’s a very old school track from what I believe…
Garrett: I raced the event in 2005 back then it seemed more like the MXoN team that everyone wanted the opportunity to get selected as I didn’t apply, I was picked to go. The year I was on the team with Ross Brown and Robert Hamilton, we ended up on the podium with third overall. It wasn’t my results that helped that weekend as my bike blew up in race one and with no spare bikes with us I got the lend of a locals 450 Yamaha with a dodgy clutch and was like riding an iron gate. The track I rode was a different track to now as this track is only in use the last nine or ten years now. It is similar in it was an old school type track and also hard pack.
GateDrop: Being a former top rider in Ireland and racing in England for many years as well as this event – I think you’ll be able to really help the riders this weekend with plenty of tips and pointers over the weekend…
Garrett: Let’s hope I can help them in anyway possible to make sure they enjoy the weekend and most importantly have fun and keep the nerves to a minimum. This will allow them to do their best.
GateDrop: Two of the younger talents, Ethan Gawley (65cc) and Alfie Herron (85cc) have impressed me when I’ve seen them race, this weekend should surely be a big help for them to see what the level is like over in Europe…
Garrett: Alfie and Ethan have been showing great speed lately both at home and in England and it will be interesting to see how they can do, like you say against some strong competition in Europe. The only thing we can’t do is put loads of pressure on one rider in each class as this is a team event and we need solid results from each rider to make sure we can do the best possible as a team.
GateDrop: We have a solid main team – Jack Meara, Jake Farrelly and Nathan Green. Any expectations for them or do you just want them to ride to their full potential and enjoy the event?
Garrett: The U21 team is also a good solid team, each rider has been to this event before so that’s a bonus that they know the track and with this track only used for this event, it means there’s not many having the major advantage with track knowledge. All I can ask is the boys go out try their best and enjoy the event and bring home a finish in each race working as a team. We will see what way things finish up on the Sunday night.
GateDrop: There’s some top talents racing such as Grau, Askew, Rizzi, to name a few. Are you looking forward to watching some top talents this weekend?
Garrett: Each year this event attracts names to it that maybe ain’t well known but the following years you see them in the GP’s. Last year it was the Coenen brothers who impressed me at the event and look at them this season in the MX2 GP’s. The year I competed it was names like Clement Desalle and look what he went on to achieve. What was crazy that weekend was that Ross brown who competed for team Ireland beat Desalle.
GateDrop: The Coupe de l’Avenir is obviously a great experience for the Irish to get their feet wet, it is difficult but would you like some of the younger riders go and race in Europe more?
Garrett: For any riders who have the potential and are at the front over in England really need to be over in Europe as that is were the best riders are. I guess the problem is the expense to get to Europe for riders in Ireland, it can be an expensive trip.
GateDrop: Cole McCullough has been racing the EMX125 series which has been great to see and he’ll race it in 2024 as well. What’s your thoughts on him as a rider – he could have a bright future…
Garrett: Cole has been doing good in Europe he seems to show his best in the sand but his hard pack riding seems to be coming on too. You tend to forget he’s still so young, if it was me I think I’d be looking at going EMX250 on a 250f when you see the speed Billy Askew has shown this year riding the 4 stroke and think back to riders like Roczen etc at 15 on the 250 as I feel it would have an advantage. But Cole I’m sure has his dad (Philip) and Adam keeping him right and let’s hope he can one day make it to MXGP.
Interview: Andy McKinstry
Main image: Katie Cultra MX Photos
