Record for Ulster
By TMX Archives on 19th Mar 08
A RECORD 40,000 prize package, spread over Ulster Championships for Motocross and Supermoto, was announced last week by the governing body of the sport, the Motorcycle Racing Association.Speaking at a press conference in Lisburn, the sports development officer, Malcolm Beattie, welcomed a new title sponsor on board.
‘‘Our flagship Ulster Open Championship will have
backing from In Touch Network Solutions, a Craigavon-based IT company specialising in fibre optic cabling and network infrastructures.''
Gordon Roberts, the founder and co-owner of the business, is an MRA competitor and has been involved with the highly successful Moto One team which scooped every Ulster and Irish motocross title in 2006 and again last year with Philip McCullough and Wayne Garrett respectively”
Garrett recently swtiched from KTM to Suzuki
machinery and of course, will be out to retain his various championships with the likes of Tommy Merton, Richard Bird, Michael Sinton and Graeme Irwin doing their best to depose him!
Beattie went on: ‘‘We have also been fortunate in
securing sponsorship for the individual classes within the championship. The premier MX1 class will be backed for a third year by Watt Motorcycles while McBurney Solicitors are new to the Semi-expert class.''
‘‘Russells Motorcycles are continuing their long association by backing Grade C for a record 25th year,'' added Beattie. ‘‘Both the Grade A and B Ulster MX2 championships will have the benefit of support from Nutt Travel.''
Grade C will come under the umbrella of One Stop Mortgage while the Donegal-based Highland Bakery will again put their ‘dough' into the premier Quadcross series.
The flourishing Youth division which helped to mould the highly successful careers of the likes of Lawrence Spence, Stephen Russell, Alan Morrison, Philip Neill, Gordon Crockard and Martin Barr will again benefit from the
support of the enthusiastic Enkalon club.
Supermoto action again benefits from the generosity of Tomlin Leisure Vehicles and Laverty Catering with additional help from C&G Joinery and Balloo Hire.
An interesting Supermoto development is the return of a round of the British championship to Ulster which will be staged by the Killinchy club in conjunction with the first round of its P&O series at Bishopscourt on October 25.
There will of course be the usual British Championship motocross event at Desertmartin on June 22.
The premier Ulster Motocross Championship kicks off on Easter Monday at Donemana while the first MX2 round is at the same track the following day. Each championship consists of six rounds.
2008 MRA CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDARS
MRA In Touch Open Motocross Champs
March 24 – Donemana (Errigal MCC)
April 12 – Tandragee (North Armagh MCC&CC)
June 14 – Seaforde (Mourne MCC)
June 28 – Downpatrick (Killinchy & DMCC)
July 14 – Seaforde (Knock & DMC)
August 23 – Desertmartin (Cookstown & DMCC)
MRA Quadcross & MX2 Champs
March 25 – Donemana (Ballymoney MC)
May 31 – venue TBC (Seven Towers MC)
July 5 – Tandragee (North Armagh MC&CC)
July 26 – Tinkerhill (Quad Racing Ireland)
August 16 – Donemana (Errigal MC)
September 6 – Downpatrick (Mourne MC)
MRA Enkalon Ulster Youth Champs
April 19 – Cunningburn (NI Junior MCC)
May 31 – Desertmartin (North Armagh MCC&CC)
June 7 – Donemana (Ballymoney)
July 26 – venue TBC (Seven Towers)
September 20 – Gortnavern (MRA Youth)
2008 MRA Supermoto Champs
April 9 – Nutts Corner (Supermoto NI)
May 24 – Aghadowey (Supermoto NI)
June 7 – Aghadowey (Supermoto NI)
July 19 – Nutts Corner (Supermoto NI)
August 2 – Aghadowey (Supermoto NI)
August 10 – Nutts Corner (Supermoto NI)
September 13 – Nutts Corner (Supermoto NI)
September 27 – Aghadowey (Supermoto NI)
MRA P&O Winter Supermoto Series
October 25 – Bishopscourt (Killinchy & DMCC)
November 1 – Kirkistown (Killinchy & DMCC)
November 15 – Bishopscourt (Killinchy & DMCC)
November 22 – Kirkistown (Killinchy & DMCC)