Irwin gunning for a magnificent 7
By Sean Lawless on 5th Jul 17
Graeme Irwin (Buildbase Honda) will be aiming to extend his win-streak to seven motos on the trot at round four of the Michelin MX Nationals at Sherwood MX near Mansfield this weekend.
The Irishman is proving himself to be the man everyone has to beat on a 450 this season and he currently leads his team-mate Martin Barr - the only other rider to win a moto in this year's series - by 24 points in the ProX Racing Parts Pro MX1 class.
Barr, who trades up from his usual MX2 machine for the MX Nationals, proved to be Irwin's biggest threat at round three of the series at Hawkstone Park along with Elliott Banks-Browne (Geartec Husqvarna) and Gert Krestinov (Phoenix Tools Honda Racing) who sit third and fourth in the standings.
The two pro classes race together on the Sunday and Irwin's perfect score last time out at Hawkstone Park was matched in the ProX Racing Parts Pro MX2 class by Mel Pocock (REVO Husqvarna UK).
In his first full season back after 2015's hand injury, Pocock leads Josh Gilbert (DTHORC Honda) by 25 points with Lewis Tombs (Lings Husqvarna) a further 19 points adrift in third, just ahead of round two overall winner Brad Todd (Putoline Planet Husqvarna).
The MX Nationals is about much more than just pro racing and the weekend's packed schedule provides racing for another four adult classes along with four top-flight youth classes.
In the Fly Racing Expert MX1 class Luke Parker has a 19-point lead over Declan Whittle with early-season pace-setter Jamie Jackson a further 16 points back in third but it's much tighter in the Bell Racing Expert MX2 class where Jake Sheridan has a three-point advantage over Glenn McCormick.
Danny Townsend closed to within 17 points of Sean Barnsdale last time out in the Moto Connection Elite Clubman MX1 class while Tony Cadman leads Ryan King in the RFX Elite Clubman MX2 class by 24 points.
The action kicks off at 9am both days. Admission is £15 for adults on the gate or £10 if pre-booked through www.mxnationals.co.uk. Sherwood MX is just off the A6075 north east of Mansfield.
Postcode is NG20 0EP.
