It’s not long until the Motocross des Nations event heads to Ernee, France on the 7th and 8th of October and some great news for the Irish team is they have decided to allow all three riders to contest the final round of the MXGP World Championship taking place at Matterley Basin on the 23rd and 24th of September.
It will allow all three riders two days of racing against Grand Prix speed in hard pack conditions, perfect preparation for the MXoN taking place two weeks later.
All three riders will line up in the MXGP class which is stacked full of talent and the best riders in the world but it’ll be a great experience. Barr who is the most experienced rider on the team used to race GP’s on a regular basis but it’s been eight years since he contested one whereas it will be Meara’s and McCormick’s MXGP debut!
For McCormick even though he is racing the MX2 class at the MXoN, he is too old to contest the MX2 World Championship so will line up in MXGP but has experience racing the bigger bike in the past and will still help him prepare for his first Des Nations event.
We caught up with all three riders to discuss getting the opportunity to race at the very highest level at MXoN and credit to the Irish team covering the license fees required.
Martin Barr: I am really looking forward to Matterley Basin for the MXGP, I haven’t done a GP in eight years so it will be cool to be back in the paddock with my team Apico Husqvarna. Obviously the pace is very high in the class right now so I’m not expecting big things but I will be giving it my best shot, it will be really good prep for the MXoN in France two weeks after. Team Ireland have covered the license fees so they are giving us the best chance possible which is greatly appreciated as with with not doing GP’s now it is always hard to go to the MXoN and get a result even though it’s not for the lack of trying! The plan for France as a team is all going the right direction so far, a lot of logistical stuff is put in place over the past few months but still lots to do. Like always I’ll be giving it 100% to do the best I can and putting in the work and looking forward to seeing everyone at the British GP.
Jason Meara: We decided to get an entry for the final round of the MXGP World Championship at Matterley Basin. I am going in with no expectations, I am not stupid and no the level out there but if I don’t go and race one now I might never get the chance to do this again. I am looking forward to the experience, it is a great opportunity and something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. If you told me five or six years ago that I would be in this position to go racing at a GP, I would have laughed at you. I am just going in open minded to enjoy the experience and ride the best that I can.
Glenn McCormick: Really looking forward to this event as Matterley Basin is a track that I have been looking to ride for a long time. Getting to line up with the best in the world at probably one of the best tracks in the world is going to be a great experience. I was always planning on doing it had everything went to plan but it’s working out well now with racing the nations two weeks after. I feel it will help to familiarise myself in that environment, something which I am really looking forward too.
Article: Andy McKinstry
Image: Adam Duckworth