Injuries for Irwin and Barr in British Championship

East Antrim motocross riders Graeme Irwin, Martin Barr and Glenn McCormick began their British Championship campaigns at Landrake, Devon at the weekend.
Martin Barr and Graeme IrwinMartin Barr and Graeme Irwin
Martin Barr and Graeme Irwin

Carrick’s Graeme Irwin on the Heads and All Threads Suzuki was in sensational form in practice, out-qualifying all the top MX1 grand prix riders to put the Suzuki on pole position for his three races.

In race one, however, it all went wrong for Irwin and a massive crash resulted in him further damaging his left ankle.

“The back end came round then gripped and spat me off big time. The bike landed on my ankle which caused the problem.” explained Graeme.

Glenn McCormickGlenn McCormick
Glenn McCormick

He did remount to finish 19th, but it put paid to any chance he had of winning any of his other races.

He had to settle for 11th in race two, and eigth in his third and final race.

“Instead of celebrating I am heading for A&E to get my injured ankle checked out, but that’s the joys of racing,” he added.

In the MX2 class, Doagh rider Barr was another on the injury list by the end of the day.

He qualified the VMXMOTO.com/ Mallen KTM in fifth after superpole, and in race one he finished sixth. In race two, while lying eighth, another rider crashed into him resulting in injury.

“Things had gone OK until the crash which was something I could have done without at this stage of the season. But we will see what the medical people say,” said Barr.

Gleno’s Glenn McCormick, fresh from winning Junior Sportsperson of the Year at the Larne Borough Sports Awards, was making his debut in the MX2 class on the Watts Motorcycles/Agnew Recovery KTM.

After a tough qualifying where he was down in 37th, he did rally in his three races to take 23rd, 24th and 27th.

“That was tough. I couldn’t get a clear track in qualifying and in my opening race there was a crash at turn one and I had to stop. There was nowhere to go,” he said.

“It meant I was dead last and I suppose to finish 23rd wasn’t too bad.

“It was a whole new experience racing against these boys, and I am glad to get the first one out of the way. I know now what to expect.”