MOTORBIKES: Fairview pupil Charley Irwin crowned 2015 Ulster 65cc Cadet

Fairview Primary School pupil Charlie Irwin wrapped up the 65cc Cadet Ulster Championship on Saturday. INLT 42-922-CON

In his three races at Desertmartin he took three second-place finishes. His first race saw him make a slow start but as he closed on the leader he did have the satisfaction of setting the fastest lap of the race.

Race two and he was at the front until the last lap when a mistake halfway around the lap allowed Cork’s Finn Wilson through to take the win.

“It was a silly mistake. I missed a gear and by the time I got it back in gear Finn was past. I nearly caught him by the flag,” explained a very disappointed Charley.

In his third and championship deciding race he had a 13-point lead and it was only a matter of keeping it safe and bringing the KTM home in one piece to become champion. Like all champions, Charley wanted to lift the title in style and although he didn’t win, he took second to complete a memorable day.

“I can’t believe that I won the title in my first year in the class and I am now really looking forward to the Arenacross at the Odyssey in January.

“I would like to take this chance to thank everyone who helped me during the year,” he beamed.

It was the eight-year-old’s first season in the class and he took four winners’ red plates out of six starts in the Ulster series.

In the Irish Championship he finished runner-up and in between his home events he travelled to the mainland returning home with the British Youth National title for the seven to eight-year-old category.

Charley will race his Discount Beds KTM in the forthcoming Arenacross in Belfast and looking to the future he plans to compete in the Ulster and Irish Youth Championships alongside the British Youth Nationals and GT Cup.