MOTORBIKES: Team-mates Barr and Irwin claim podium places at Canada Heights

Martin Barr in action at Canada Heights. INLT 17-945-CON

Barr went into the meet as a strong favourite but after a solid race one result, a stall on his CRF250F proved costly during race two.

However, his second and fourth earned him third overall and moved him to third in the championship - just one point from the series lead.

“In the first race I didn’t make such a good start and I had to come through the pack,” he said.

Graeme Irwin took a place on the MX1 podium at Canada Heights. INLT 17-947-CON

“Steven Clarke and I passed each other a couple of times but I made a mistake halfway through and he got away a little bit. I wasn’t too disappointed with the first race as I felt I was riding really good.

“I was really up for race two. I didn’t make such a good start but I had a good first lap, started picking them off and eventually got into second.

“In the last part of the race I began closing down on Clarkey but with three laps to go I had a big push on, went into a corner and lost the front end and stalled. It was very frustrating and it cost me. I should have been leading with the red plate but it’s not one of my favourite tracks and it’s still a long season with all to play for and Hawkstone Park next, followed by Desertmartin and I’m really looking forward to the next couple of races.”

Carrick’s Graeme Irwin strung together solid third and fifth place finishes on his CRF450F to move up to third in the title standings.

“It hasn’t been a bad day but because of Tommy Searle’s mistake in the first race I should have capitalised on that and been second overall,” said Graeme.

“To be fair, this track has never been one of my best so I’m happy to get a podium with the depth of this field and it’s been a good day.

“I feel I’ve used my head. I had really good speed in the first one and I was just unlucky not to get past Tanel Leok.

“I felt I had the speed to run with Shaun Simpson in the first race, not so much the second one when I struggled a little bit. I got a bad start and came through to fifth and then I was kind of on my own. I knew I was on the podium and didn’t want to have any mistakes because the track was quite sketchy.”