Parched Desert
By TMX Archives on 14th Jul 06
It takes a little more than just great racing to make a great event - so where were the crowd at Desertmartin? A somewhat diluted crowd attended what was a great day's racing at the recent round of the British championship at Desertmartin. The Cookstown and District Motorcycle Club prepared and ran the event as they always do with the professionalism that we have come to expect from this dedicated crew.
I fear that the £20 admission (not including a programme) contributed to the lack of spectators. I also believe that had the admission been half of what it was it could have attracted triple the gate. No accountancy degree needed here. Another disappointing and contributing factor was that a major road race was run on the same day not 20 miles from Desertmartin!
Considering that both are sanctioned by the MCUI is it the case that the left hand did not know what the right hand was planning or is it more to do with not caring? National road and motocross events share the same dates regularly but running one event nearly within sight of the other beggars belief.
Those that were at Desertmartin witnessed the extreme talent of Tommy Searle. Sure, the Kawasaki ace didn't win on the day - but what a talent for the future. I would probably go as far as to say that never in the history of history has such a young rider from the UK shown such promise - a world champion in the making maybe? But the draw of the bright lights and mega-bucks that beckon from the USA could well spoil that dream.
The MX1 class was a CAS Honda showcase. GC struggled with a near life-sized tattoo of Russia - or, as the medical world calls it, a haematoma (which to the average bear means a bloody big bruise). As you can imagine this injury restricted his movement and indeed results at Desertmartin.
Martin Barr had his fair share of bad luck as he was penalised in the second moto due to exhaust problems which put the Dixon Yamaha over the permitted noise limit.
The GOMX/Russell's squad had a mixed day. British championship regular Robert Hamilton fell while running eighth but team-mate Mike Sinton scored points in the first moto. And 16-year-old Luke Wilde qualified for his first ever British champs and finished 24th - he was delighted to be on the same track as the GP and British regulars.
Tommy Merton rode through the pack to take his first point on his Rainey Brothers Racing Honda. In the MX2 class both Wayne Garrett on the Moto-One/Intouch KTM and Brian McKeown provided plenty for the home crowd to cheer about. We have always known Wayne has a turn of speed but his ability to run with the top five British championship racers will have given optimism for a full season in the near future. The Comber lad suffered from arm-pump and faded towards the end of the first moto although he more than made up for it second time out, finishing in a creditable 11th. Brian McKeown was impressive - he ran top 10 in the first moto until fatigue set in and he finished 16th in the second moto.
Round two of the MCCNI-run Polisport SX series provided some close mid-week action at Tandragee Moto Park. Series leader Martin Barr crashed out of contention in the second heat and his machine was unable to perform its duties for the remainder of the night.
The racing between McCullough, Crockard and Dash for Cash winner Wayne Garrett was nothing less than spectacular with LS Racing rider and Wayne's younger brother Jason Garrett mixing it with the established stars.
A full line up of schoolies enjoyed being part of the programme and some 20 youth 85cc riders attended the Red Bull Assist Programme with Gordon before the main event. A welcome visitor was Khris Meeke who swapped his WRC car for a ride on a Monster mini for the evening in the celebrity minibike races. Khris looked at home on two wheels and proved as competitive as ever.
All of a sudden the Grand Prix of Ireland - August 26/27 at Desertmartin - is looking like it could be the most exciting Irish GP to date. And why is this you may ask? Well if Gordon keeps on finding pieces of the jigsaw that he's been steadily building throughout the season we could possibly witness a fit and on-form display from the Wulfsport rider.
The BYMX will run not one but two national championship rounds in Northern Ireland with the first being at Ballykelly on July 21/22 with the Desertmartin venue hosting a round one week later. Good luck to all our local heroes. Unfortunately, young Simon Reid from Dromore will not get to show just what he can do on home soil but there is always next year. So it will be up to Luke Wilde, Drew Goudy, Nat Kane, Ed Allingham and the Irwin boys to keep the home flag flying at Ballykelly. Good Luck to you all.
Finally this month, congratulations to the North Dublin Club on making improvements to their Gormanstown circuit where round four of the Irish MX1/MX2 series was held. At the halfway point Philip McCullough leads from team-mate Garrett with Mike Sinton in third spot.