Last Ulster Championship round heads to Desertmartin!
The 2016 MRA Motocross Championships reaches its climax this Saturday at the red sand of Desertmartin, and with only one Championship settled, there are five still up for grabs.
In the Norman Watt Motorcycles Premier MX1 Class, John Meara on his Watt Kawasaki leads Lisburn Irish Champion Richard Bird on his Five5motorsport Watt 350 KTM, by only 28 points, the fight is between these two for the Championship, and Meara must go into this race as the slight favourite to clinch his first MX1 Ulster Champion.
A distant third is Newtownards man Jordan Scott on the HTM Off Road Husqvarna 350 who should be brimming with confidence after his maiden MX1 Ulster Championship race win last time out.
Fourth is Ryan Adair from Banbridge on his Adair Building Services KTM350, and although he is ten points ahead of the injured Wayne Garrett, Portavogies Robert Hamilton on his Risk Racing Yamaha is only 26 points adrift, while Dubliner Jordan Keogh is only a point behind Hamilton on his TM250 two stroke.
The nuttravel.com Premier MX2 Class Loughbricklands Jason Meara on the Motul/Watt KTM is second, to Richard Bird now 24 points ahead of Meara on his Five5motorpsort KTM, while John Meara is third on his Watt Kawasaki now 24 points behind Jason, while a distant fourth is Banbridge man Sean Devlin on his Yamaha, while fifth is Ballymoney youngster Jordan McCaw on his HTM Off Road Husqvarna, only three points adrift, while Dundonald teenager James Mackrel is sixth, just 16 points behind on his Risk Racing Yamaha.
In the Precise Protect Insurance Semi Expert MX1 Class, Ballyclare man Ulster Shredders Husqvarna mounted Paul Atkinson a lead of 62 points ahead of Ballymena’s Ryan Esler on his 350 KTM, mathematically possible, but it will take a disaster to stop Atkinson claiming the crown. Only 7 points behind Esler is Downpatricks Chris Orr in third with David Martin on his KTM fourth 17 points behind Orr, Moira’s Jordan Blakely is fifth on his JB Electrical KTM, 17 points behind Orr and Stephen Poots a distant sixth on his Suzuki.
The Matheson Contracts/Laverty MX Semi Expert MX2 Class Carrickfergus man Karl Thompson on his Risk Racing/GOMX Yamaha has a tenuous lead of 35 points over Ballyclare man Kris Rea on his Yamaha , Donegal youngster Aaron Gardiner only 7 behind him in third, while Magherafelt young Cameron Turley from Larne on his HTM Off Road Husqvarna 125cc two stroke machine moves up to an impressive fourth, while fellow teen, Magherafelt rider Jake Hall on his HTM Off Road Husqvarna 250 is only 8 behind in fifth, Michael Clyde look safe in sixth, and could threaten Hall & Turley as he is not far off either Husqvarna rider.
The Russells Motorcycles Clubman MX1 Class English based Greysteel man Jordan Allingham on his EHA Honda claimed the title at Laurel Bank after his clolsest rival Ciaran Boyle injured himself, Comber’s Stephen Gabbey on his KTM is now third but is unlikely to appear at Desertmartin, leaving the way clear for Dungiven KTM mounted rider Ryan Canning to leap to third, fifth behind Canning is Dungannon man Denver Robb, again, KTM mounted, while sixth is Ian Dunlop.
The Spence Racing Clubmans MX2 Class Nathan Hamilton on his Yamaha has a healthy lead over Tony Conlon on his Yamha of 39 points while third Sean Laverty on his Suzuki 20 points behind Conlon, fourth is Jack Smyth 20 points behind Laverty, while John Morrow, and Lurgan man Ruari Grimes are a handful of points behind these two, the minor placings are all wide open here and this class should produce their usual close racing.
Racing starts at 11.00 on 18th June and the track will be signposted off the main Desrtmartin to Tobermore Rd.
Words: Malcolm Beattie
Pic: Nigel McKinstry
