SX Showdown!
Published: 14th December 2006
Author: words by Gordon Crockard. Photo by Sutty
Gordy signs off the season in style at the Belfast International Supercross
Merry Christmas! Happy off-season! Season's greetings! Okay, that's the small talk out of the way but I do mean it. This time of year is a tough one for magazine column content and I often wonder to myself who actually reads my stuff anyway? Is it kids, teenagers, young adults, dads, rivals, sponsors, mates, mums, girls, DBR staff, myself? Really, I'm never to know so it's hard to know exactly what audience I have (if any) and how to make it good reading and fun.
DBR never seem to complain too much so I must be doing something right but on that note I don't think I'm ever going to be a contender for employee of the month as I'm normally lastminute.com with getting it over to the office before it goes to print. Perhaps that's why I haven't received my invite to the DBR Christmas party? Good job too as my stockpile of dance moves would make for some great photos...NOT (Borat joke)!
Swiftly moving on from that controversially unprofessional word 'party', I can report on some cool points that have been happening. Matt Bates held a snazzy press launch to promote the Belfast Supercross and successfully acquired Shane Lynch from Boyzone to compete in the minibike race. Apparently - and not from my own assessment - he's pretty charming to the ladies' eyes. So for the first time ever there were more women at the press conference than men. They love him! It's sickening! But fair play to the guy, he's really dead-on and at the end of the day...the hungry must be fed!
For the supercross I had to do the same Cool FM radio stuff which is always good fun as the temptation to say whatever you like or, for others, whatever they wouldn't like is always hard to resist! I've managed to never swear on live TV or radio but it so easily could happen. Let's hope it never does!
Around the same time the Bercy SX was shown on Eurosport and watching it I found myself realising that I was sat on the sofa while Mike Brown and others were getting excellent handlebar time in. I was racing against them in a week or so and felt some practice was needed. After a few calls I got organised to go to an indoor practice track in Ballyclare near Belfast and I'm so glad I did. It's called Dirtworks and was just what I was looking for. I went a couple of times and enjoyed it a lot. Dry, clean and warm are all good by me at this time of year!
That motto rolls over into other aspects too as now at home we've had an outbuilding converted into a gym. I can do all my training at home now, something I've wanted to do for a long time. Running the legs off yourself in the harsh Irish winter can sometimes be a bit too unpleasant but hopefully those dark, wet, cold training sessions won't be so common now that I've all the facilities indoors at home.
Myself and a large group of friends had a night out at the Odyssey in Belfast watching the Pink concert. She's a fantastic performer and puts on a mighty show. Carey Hart, the freestyle legend from the X-Games, sure has himself a fine wife in Mrs Pink. I don't know her real name and even if I did I wouldn't let on as you'd think I was an obsessed fan. I'm more of a Shayne Lynch or Boyzone fan...NOT (Borat joke)!
A few days later I was at the Odyssey again, this time for the Events 22 SX. The rider line-up was impressive and it's still surreal to me to be racing such competition, in a supercross, in an arena, in my home town. Ten years ago I'd have told you you were mad if you'd predicted that ever happening. Every year I hope for it to be a success as it has a massive positive effect on motocross in Ireland. It brings the sport to the people instead of the usual battle of trying to bring the people to the sport.
On Friday I won my three Supercross MX1 class heats and then qualified through to the Main Event which I led right up until the two-lap board. Erik Vallejo had crashed on the finishline double and the yellow flag went out - but the two-lap board was in front and bigger so I didn't see the yellow flag. At the last moment I saw Vallejo, thought I was going to land on him, backed off and crashed into the face of the second jump. So I lost the race. Bummer!
Thank goodness there was another night! Again I won my three heats and was set for a good final. Mike Brown and I had the closest race I've ever been in. He beat me to the flag by 0.8 of a second but I enjoyed the battle enough to be content with second. As much as I tried I just couldn't find a way past.
I borrowed my mate Graham Jellie's CR250 two-stroke for the race and Steve Clitheroe tuned the engine perfectly. Craig gave me a DEP pipe system, Peter supplied the Bridgestone tyres, Bagnalls printed my shirts and Rick and Rolly at Bodytech supplied the plastics for the bike. Andy at Alpinestars made my graphics and, of course, Michael Gibson from Russell's Motorcycles prepped and mechaniced the machine. So thank you all very much - it was a great help and a great success!
As this is my last column for '06 I want to thank all of the Team Wulfsport Honda team members and sponsors. I'm very grateful for the support and opportunities that were given to me and I appreciate you showing belief in my ability to race to the standard required.
Finally, my mate Rolly Suitor is recovering from major surgery and on behalf of myself and all his friends I'd like to wish him all the best for the future and may he have a rapid return to his remarkable self! Get well soon BIG MAN!