MOTOCROSS:  A St Patrick’s Day start to Motocross in Desertmartin

Desertmartin motocross track will be buzzing with activity this Saturday with the start of the championship season.

Premier MX1 Class Champion Lisburn man Richard Bird faces some stiff opposition this year from the young guard of the sport, with John Meara from Loughbrickland likely to be a strong challenger if he can regain his form shown in 2017 before injury ruined his year, and of course, if newly Husqvarna mounted Stuart Edmonds can string a season together between his British commitments, he will be in the mix as well.

Amongst the rest of the pack, Wexford man Jim O’Neill had an excellent year in 2017 picking up the bronze medal, Greyabbey man Craig Browne is claiming a reduced programme this year, but young Dundonald charger James Mackrel has stepped up to the big bikes with Risk Racing/GOMX and if he can show the big Yamaha some respect, he will be a genuine contender along with team mate Sean Devlin, if the Banbridge man can get some fitness built up.

MX2 Premier was won by Loughbrickland man Jason Mera on his KTM, but he will not have it all his own way this year perennial rival, a recovered from injury Glenn McCormick from Glenoe will be back on his case, and his younger brother Cailum, newly promoted from a dominant Semi Expert season in 2017 will certainly not be showing any brotherly love on his Suzuki.

Chuck in Dubliner Jordan Keogh’s ever improving form,  and fellow teenagers Aaron Gardiner, Dylan Stynes and Ballymoney man Jordan McCaw, this will be an exciting watch in 2018.

Semi Expert MX1 was won by Kevin Donnelly, and with Silver medal winner Mark Dynes rumoured to be going tarmac racing in 2018, this class is wide open so expect names like Bob Smith, Keith Vaughan and Gary Mannion to be up there, similarly, in the Semi Expert MX2 Class, Champion Cailum Devlin has moved up, so leaving the way open for young Lurgan man William McBride, Jake Hall, and maybe Clubman Champ Johnny Presho to be at the sharp end.

Clubman MX1 can be unpredictable as there is always someone new to come out of the pack, but Darren Wilkinson has been progressing up the ranks, along with Lurgan man Barry Dummigan, along with Trevor Pearse, Brian Presho and others, while Clubman MX2 is in a similar position with Combers Johnny Presho moved up, a host of Eastern European names dominated with Andrew Vigna winning the Silver, Grzegorz Legutko taking Bronze, Maciej Goldyn taking fourth and Jamie Fleming fifth, a great reflection on the inclusivity of our sport.

Racing starts at 1100, entry is £5.00 with under 14’s free, and the circuit is between Desertmartin Village and Draperstown.

Qualifying starts at 9.30am 1st race approx. 11am . Entrance to the track £5 U14s free Hot food on site Approx £1200 prize money up for grabs