Crowd Control!
Published: 14th September 2007
Author: Stevie Mills Photo by Sutty
Organisers may have performed a minor miracle to get the Moneyglass track in shape for the points-paying GP races but what happened to the security?
Firstly, credit where it's due, Joe Coburn and his team worked miracles on the Moneyglass GP track late into Saturday night which basically allowed racing to happen at all. By Sunday afternoon the circuit was in tip-top condition for the world's finest riders to strut their stuff, providing exceptional racing in the second MX2 moto.
Local interest was placed firmly on the shoulders of Dixon Yamaha pilot Martin Barr who scored points in his home GP. Confidence in abundance, one week later at the British GP Martin recorded 10th position overall - a personal best in grands prix. For sure Martin is teasingly on the edge of breaking into the ‘big league’ where he can start to earn recognition and a decent living for his efforts in 2008.
Now it must be said that while the actual preparation of the track was exceptional, there were major failings in the basic internal structure of running the event over the weekend. Security was a shambles and talk is that only one-third of the people who attended the GP actually paid to get in. I agree that there is a small element of pond life that would walk 20 miles through cow poo to avoid paying the entrance fee - but two-thirds!
I need to hold on to my belief that near on all of the people that drove to Moneyglass on Sunday morning did so with the intention of paying a nominal fee to gain access and enjoy a world class event. That being the fact, many people that I have spoken to told me that there was simply nobody at the gate to accept money from the punters.
The only other big gripe from the spectators’ point is that the best viewing bits are from the infield or in the middle of the track. As Steve Ramon so clearly pointed out, this is dangerous! The Suzuki rider nearly landed on a bunch of spectators who breached the security and watched from the prohibited zone.
Do you honestly see the des Nations being staged in Ireland one week away from October? I would love to see it happen, just as I would like to win the lottery - unfortunately the probability is that it will not happen. Mr Srb and co will have taken a few notes away with them following the Irish GP. Crowd control – poor. Crowd in general – pretty poor for European GP standards. Weather (in August) - crap and it’s hardly likely to be better the last week in September.
On the domestic championship front, it's looking like Wayne Garrett will mirror the success of his team boss Phil McCullough. McC won all four domestic titles in 2006, a feat that had never been achieved in the history of Irish MX. Well Wayne has already secured the Ulster Open class series - his first ever adult championship – and the Moto-One KTM rider is having a fantastic season and currently leads the remaining three championships.
Tommy Merton aboard his Rainey Brothers Honda has all but filled the number two podium position in the Ulster series but the battle for the final rung on the podium is very much alive going into the final round with Mike Sinton on the GOMX Russell's Honda holding a mere two-point advantage over Richard Bird. Simply the most improved rider on the Irish motocross circuit in 2007, Ricky Bird has always had a turn of speed but now the RS Freight-sponsored racer has both consistency and fitness to match.
Budds Creek USA is the venue of this year’s Olympics of motocross and the Irish MXdN team is still unconfirmed. Crockard, Barr and Garrett were to have formed one of the strongest Irish teams on record but Gordon’s recent injury should rule him out of the squad, leaving reserve rider Tommy Merton to fill the vacant slot in the team.
To be honest and pretty brutal, without Crockard on the team it will be a tough – near impossible - to see our team making the Main Event on the Sunday. Sure Martin is improving on the world stage and with a good gate could just pull us through the qualification races. Wayne and Tommy are great riders at home but to expect them to perform at the highest level in the USA is a bridge too far.
Where does GC go from here? How long can Gordon keep going back to the well? Surely there are only so many injuries and disappointments that a guy can stomach before crying enough! Simply the biggest talent to come from these shores, I firmly believe that there is another British championship in Gordon and a chance to earn a living from the sport.
Spending a fortune travelling the globe with no prize money or realistic chance of being signed by a team that would actually pay a decent wage is madness. If I were GC I would race the British championship, DEP series, KWS Internationals and a selected few GPs in ’08. Take a year to get back into the winning races and enjoying racing again, then who knows…
No Belfast Supercross! It will for sure be a long winter without the Belfast International Supercross pilgrimage to look forward to this year. I hope Matt and the crew will be back next year. I guess we will have to make do with the Dirt Worx Mini SX series and indoor practice track in Ballyclare. Dates should be available soon so watch this space.
Speaking of minibike action, James ‘Super Mac’ McFerran is leading the ACU British Championship with only one round remaining. Nephew of Brian Steele, James is making a name for himself on the mainland aboard his Monstermoto.co.uk competition minibike. It would be great news to have another British champion from this side of the pond so keep her lit James!