Motocross: Newbuildings men hoping to retain moto crown

Errigal Motorcycle Club will host the fourth and most Northerly Round of the Ulster Youth Motocross Championship at Errigal Motorcycle Club’s fantastic new track at Inishowen Quad Safari, just outside of Buncrana, this weekend.

This is the second National Championship (Irish or Ulster) standard event ever to run at this very well received new venue.

It follows the fourth round of the Irish Youth Motocross Championship recently run in May, and the only round of the Ulster Championship to be held in the North West of the Province, attracting all of the top young Motocross riders, competing for the much coveted title of Ulster Champion in their respective age related classes, and demonstrating the skills that make them the elite.

There will be local interest on Saturday as many of Errigal Motorcycle Club’s own youth members will also be riding at this event, young Keaton Stewart from St Johnston in the Big Wheeled 85cc Class who showed very strongly at the recent Irish Championship round at the Inishowen Quad Safari Track with second, third and fifth place finishes, joined also in this class by Curtis McDermott from Buncrana for whom this is very much his home round.

Also another Errigal MCC member, who showed strongly in the recent Irish Youth Championship round, was Aaron Gardiner from Nixon’s Corner who finished a personal best second and two third place finishes in the 3 Motos in the most senior ‘Premier’ Class of the Youth Irish Championship, on the 250f machines.

Aaron will be joined in this class by last year’s defending Ulster Champion Matthew Loughlin from Newbuildings who has won four of the six
Motos. He has contested closely in this Championship this 
season, finishing second 
in the other two, and will certainly be expected to be a contender for race wins at this event.

This is actually a transitional year for Matthew and many others in this Senior Youth Class who can compete with a “Dual-Licence” allowing him to compete in both youth and adult events this season before making the move fully into the adult ranks for next season, and in doing so Matthew is actually leading the Irish (Adult) Semi-Expert MX2 (250f machines) Championship.

Aaron and Matthew will be joined in the Senior 250f Class at Buncrana by other local riders Ross Thompson, from Newbuildings currently lying third in the Youth Ulster Championship in this Class and also Jason McCauley from who is consistently also finishing strongly.

There is a real Buzz amongst the Ulster MX Fraternity about the mouth-watering prospect of racing for the first time for most of them at the new and excellently prepared Inishowen Quad Safari Track.

For an exciting and inexpensive family day out, go along to the Errigal MCC’s fourth Round of Ulster Youth MX Championship at Quad Safari. Practice starts at 9.30am and racing at 11am.

This event showcases young people using these off-road competition motorcycles as they are intended, safely under guidance and in a controlled environment, with riders wearing the appropriate safety protective clothing in supervised sessions on a purpose built track.

Young people with off-road motorcycles (or parents) who are not yet racing are urged to come along and see this example of best practice and welcome them to feel free to ask club members/officials with any queries they may have about the sport, requirements or how to get involved.

Then, the following day on Sunday will be the fifth Round of Errigal MCC’s own Club Championship for both adult and youth riders again at Inishowen Quad Safari Track effectively making this a two day festival of Motocross.

Sunday’s event will commence with bikes on track for practice at 10.30am, followed by racing.

Admission on Sunday is 5 euros; under 12 year-olds get in free and Saturday’s event is completely free admission for all.