Nat’s podium vow
By TMX Archives on 30th Nov 12
Natalie Kane hinted she would like to get to the top step of the podium, after getting a rousing reception during the MRA prize-giving, which attracted 320 off-road fanatics to the Stormont Hotel in Belfast.
Natalie was presented with a special award after finishing a career-best second in the World Ladies Motocross Championship.
Competing under the banner of HM Plant KTM UK, Natalie who hails from Loughbrickland, Co Down, said: "This is the first
season in four years I didn't have any serious injuries.
"I was fortunate to score points in all eight rounds and back in June I won my first world championship moto in Slovenia – that was a real bonus.”
A multi British champion, 22-year-old Natalie iscertainly a hot tip for further glory with Roger Magee's KTM team in 2013.
On the domestic front the achievements of Gary Gibson, Wayne Garrett and John Meara were applauded on Saturday evening when MRA chairman, Jimmy Walker, saluted the huge turn-out of riders from motocross and supermoto.
Gibson won his first Irish Premier Championship this season, followed by Michael Mahon from Dublin and Garrett, who missed the last two rounds due to injury.
"I'm still recovering from that shoulder injury,” explained Garrett.
"It was an unfortunate end to the season, but I haven't lost my appetite – it will be onwards and upwards next year.”
Retink Racing backed the Irish championship and their representative Stefan Byrne said a similar
package is envisaged for 2013.
The Norman Watt Motorcycles-backed Ulster Championship was won by Garrett, who stressed that he will again be on the JAR Hondas, which are linked to world superbike star, Jonathan Rea.
