Irish Ayes!
Published: 12th April 2007
Author: Words by Stevie Mills Photo by still-mx.co.uk
Gordy and Marty get in the GP points at Valkenswaard while Tommy cleans up at home...
One of the greatest aspects of this sport of ours is that you simply cannot buy your way to the top. Sure, Mr Money Bags can purchase most of the bling factory parts that are sprinkled all over the GP riders' machines but they ain't going to help Money Bags Jnr become world class unless he has a lot of talent to start with plus the determination to train, test and fight from gate to flag.
One man who has confirmed his work ethic so far is Rainey Brothers Honda rider Tommy Merton who has pretty much stamped on the opposition so far on the national circuits. At round one of the Ulster champs at Desertmartin Tommy was not headed for a moment all day to go 1-1 and take the series lead. Moto-One's Wayne Garrett collected 2-2 on the day while a surprise third place in the standings after round one is AJ/Elite Bathrooms-backed Dave Gorman, the only man piloting a two-smoker. Mike Sinton on the Russell's Honda made the going in race one but he crashed heavily out of contention next time out, badly bruising his right shoulder.
Southern centre youngster Stuart Edmunds is coming of age and since he boarded the CCM/TM 450 he has qualified and scored points in the British MX1 championship. Stuart was impressive at Desertmartin and for my money he will be a title contender for top Irish championship honours this season.
Staying on the subject of the British championship, GC has taken his first race win of 2007 to lay solid foundations for the rest of his championship challenge. And Martin Barr surprised a few people at the Hawkstone International and followed that up with a podium at Canada Heights on his return to MX2.
Intouch/Moto-One team leader in 2007, Wayne Garrett is finding his feet in the Maxxis MX2 series - a solid start from which to build. Scoring points and gaining experience is the key. Pioneer Yamaha's Robert Hamilton showed lightning starts at round one, taking good points during the day. And congratulations to Wulfsport's Adam McKee on making the grade at Landrake - here's hoping Adam can follow in the tyre tracks of Wulfsport/Kawasaki's Shaun Simpson.
Now for some GP news! Having Irishmen taking points in both MX1 and MX2 in the world championships is exciting to say the least. GC recovered well from a big off in qualifying to finish a strong 11th in the second moto in the extremely deep Dutch sand - good enough for 15th in the standings. Roll on the hard-pack tracks!
Martin took his first MX2 points first time out. After a superb qualification race for ninth the Bike it Yamaha rider scored a fine 16th in the second moto, confirming yet again his world class potential.
Congratulations to the Killinchy Club whose Hogans Bar-sponsored annual John Donnelly MX at Downpatrick was a resounding success. A good crowd turned out and were rewarded with close and competitive racing throughout all five groups. Merton blitzed qualifying by nearly five seconds but failed to have his name engraved on the prestigious trophy after crashing in race one. Making no such mistakes for the rest of the day, Tommy convincingly won the remaining two motos.
With its £4000 plus prize fund the John Donnelly always provides 'proper racing' - Merton, Garrett, Sinton, Gorman and the surprise package of Edmunds and his 450 TM kept the crowds entertained in the Co Down sunshine. Wayne Garrett had the lion's share of the wages scoring 1-2-2 on his KTM.
Round one of the Great Stuff Catering South Western MX championship got of to a great start in the fair city of Cork. Derek Buckley and the Munster club ran the meeting well and a large crowd were treated to some great racing.
Desertmartin on April 21 will mark the opening of the Irish national championship season and the usual suspects will be joined by a few new faces this time around. And the absence of McCullough will open the door for a new champion for 2007.
Summer is on the horizon and with it will come longer nights, BBQ Man (Night man's cousin) and the midweek SX series which will get started on May 16 at Ballymoney. Put it in your diary - now!
See you all at the races...