Ulster Championship RD5: Preview
The 2016 MRA Motocross Championships pitch up this Saturday 20th August at the old school track of Laurel Bank near Saintfield for the 5th round of the Championships promoted by the Temple Club.
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 37 points, although anything can happen with 75 points a day up for grabs and the going at Laurel Bank may suit the Lisburn man as his Grass Track skills are second to none, but Meara is certainly the dominant man in Irish Motocross this year.
Tied third 40 points behind Bird is the injured Wayne Garrett, and 24 year old Newtownards man Jordan Scott on the HTM Off Road Husqvarna 350 showing great form this year.
Fifth is reigning Ulster Champion, Robert Hamilton, although the Risk Racing/GOMX Yamaha mounted Portavogie man is having a troubled season is 16 points behind Scott, while sixth is Duleek man Jordan Keogh on his 250 TM two stroke.
The nuttravel.com Premier MX2 Class Jason Meara on the Motul/Watt KTM is second, the Loughbrickland teenager lost his lead through a dnf at Tandragee to Richard Bird now 18 points ahead of Meara on his Five5motorpsort KTM, while John Meara is third on his Watt Kawasaki 14 points behind Jason, with young Belfast rider Jordan Keogh up to fourth on his Kawasaki, fifth is Sean Devlin on his Yamaha, while sixth is Ballymoney youngster Jordan McCaw on his HTM Off Road Husqvarna.
In the Precise Protect Insurance Semi Expert MX1 Class, Ballyclare man Ulster Shredders Husqvarna mounted Paul Atkinson has held lead to31 points ahead of Ballymena’s Ryan Esler on his 350 KTM, 11 points behind him is Downpatricks Chris Orr in third with David Martin on his KTM slipping to fourth,Moira’s Jordan Blakely in fifth on his JB Electrical KTM and Stephen Poots sixth on his Suzuki.
The Matheson Contracts/Laverty MX Semi Expert MX2 Class Carrickfergus man Karl Thompson on his Risk Racing/GOMX Yamaha has extended his lead to 38 points over Ballyclare man Kris Rea on his Yamaha after the big Antrim man had to borrow a bike at Tandragee thanks to a cracked headstock, Donegal youngster Aaron Gardiner only 11 behind him in third, while Magherafelt teenager Jake Hall on his KTM holds down fourth after his maiden adult podium at Tandragee, young Cameron Turley from Larne on his HTM Off Road Husqvarna 125cc two stroke machine moves up to an impressive fifth, while Michael Clyde slips five points behind him to sixth.
The Russells Motorcycles Clubman MX1 Class English based Greysteel man Jordan Allingham on his EHA Honda failed to regain his lead at the last visit to Tandragee, Ciaran Boyle increased his lead on his two stroke Yamaha to 19 points, third is ex road racer Denver Robb on his 350 KTM but the title fight is realistically between Allingham & Boyle now, fourth is Kawasaki mounted Ian Dunlop only three points behind Robb, while Dungivens Ryan Canning and Comber’s Stephen Gabbey fight it out for fifth and sixth on their KTM’s.
The Spence Racing Clubmans MX2 Class Nathan Hamilton on his Yamaha leads the pack ahead of ,Tony Conlon on his Yamha while third Sean Laverty on his Suzuki, fourth is Johnny Presho on his Honda, while fifth is John Morrow while Lurgan man Ruari Grimes on his Yamaha rounds out the top six after suffering a concussion in a first corner crash at Tandragee.
Racing starts at 11.00 on 18th June and the track will be signposted off the main Saintfield Rd just past the Temple Crossroads.
Article: Malcolm Beatiee
