Irish Invasion!

Published: 13th February 2008

Author: Stevie Mills

Watch out mainland Britain – the boys from the Emerald Isle are on their way over…

City North Hotel provided the backdrop for the MCUI off-road awards where more than 400 people turned out to support the cream of both youth and adult motocross plus the top three supermoto racers who received their silverware on the same billing.

Man of the moment Wayne Garrett did the honour of presenting the prizes and then gave an insight into his plans for this year with the now Suzuki-mounted Moto-One squad. As per usual MC for the day Roy Neill raised a few laughs as he interviewed the top three finishers as they stood on the podium to collect their awards.

Young hot shot Edward Allingham has been chalking up plenty of air miles and adding even more silverware to his ever-expanding trophy cabinet. And wins in both 125 Stock and Modified classes at the Mini-Os at Gatorback in the Sunshine State of Florida are for sure one way of dealing with the winter blues! To say young Allingham has a busy schedule over the next 12 months is an understatement as he’s committed to the British BYMX and MXY2 race series while home fans will get a chance to see him battle in the Ulster MX2 champs.

The Irish MX championship series will take in all four corners of the island, starting on April 18 at one of the world’s premier MX venues. A new eight-round format this year will take in four events in the north - Desertmartin, Seaforde, Tandragee and Donamanagh - and four in the south – Athlone, Dundalk, Ferns and Cork.

Wayne Garrett is the man to beat. His fitness is better than it has ever been and Wayne has the ability to break top 12 in British championship motos if he gets out of the gate.right lights are waiting for team-mate Graeme Irwin as the teenager enters his first season of British MX2 racing. Irwin has speed - he proved that time and time again on the way to lifting the 2007 MXY2 British crown against the fastest youngsters in the UK - but don't expect too much from the kid first time out (although Graeme has a rare raw talent so an upset is possible). And b

Martin Barr has been on Blarney’s blower and word from the ever-smiling Dixon/Bike-it man is that he’s good to go. Very much part of the GP team this year, Barty is delighted with the new YZ and support package that Steve has put together. On reflection, Barty's des Nations performance and his rides at the Italian and British GPs along with the Brit champs race at Desertmartin were pretty much the highlights of ’07.

I believe Martin is ready to take another step forward. He has developed further in both his physical and mental preparation and has made a wise choice staying with Steve Dixon for 2008 which may well be the most important season yet for the Larne man. As with so many athletes, speed and talent will only get you so far and many races are won or lost before the startgate even drops. If our Martin can keep his head in ‘the zone’ he’ll continue to fan the flames of his burning desire for recognition as a world class contender.

With the Crock Star's departure starting to sink in among the masses of Sunday afternoon Eurosport fans, the news that the MX2 races will be screened live has rekindled local interest. Actually, come to think of it, we’ll have plenty of Irish motorcycle TV action this year with Marty in the GPs and also joining Irwin, Garrett and Hammy in the British champs. I’m sure we may even see Allingham taking in a few rounds.

At the recent star-studded Irish Racer Awards, McC and myself found ourselves in a most uncharacteristic predicament – welded to the bar. It was after about a dozen double vodka and Red Bulls or so that we came to the conclusion that Tarmac racers are actually failed motocrossers! And what a great accolade for MX that evening when Graeme Irwin lifted the Young Rider of the Year against the might of the Tarmac stars while Wayne Garrett convincingly won Motocross Rider of the Year.

With the closure of Ballykelly it will be the Donamanagh circuit that will run both Grade C qualification races and the infamous March Hare Motocross. The pre-season hype is rapidly turning into blind panic as the calendar ticks down the days until wheels will turn in earnest.Remember, come March it will be plain to see who has put in the work over the winter months – and who hasn’t!

See you track side…