At the recent Sidecarcross & Quadcross of Nations Team Ireland Quads stepped onto the rostrum for the second year in a row but this time, a step higher when they finished a fine second place behind Team USA.
The Sidecarcross crews had a tougher time but still managed to finish eighth overall behind a highly competitive entry, and on a track far too narrow for competitive racing.
Sidecars started well with race 1, Gary Moulds & Steve Kirwin gated well but wheelied too much and were twelfth going into the first corner, the Ingram cousins Geoff & David were extremely nervous and rode cautiously in the exalted company on show. Gary had worked his way up to 8th but got caught in a hole and when Steve was lifting the front wheel out, a Latvian crew steamed into the back of them and hurt Steves wrist, they finished 15th with Ingrams 19th.
Second race Gary again running 8th with Neil Campbell & Craig Parmenter back in 15th, a bit uneventful and both finished strongly and the team went into race 3 in 6th place.
Race 3 was a bit disappointing with Neil finishing 17th & the Ingrams a steady 21st to leave the team 8th overall. The track was rough and one line only, probably the worst track we have been to in the last 6 years, but the host club worked hard on prep between races. However, the track was destroyed by Quads running big wheels to compensate for the sand, up to 22 inches in diameter, digging deep ruts and leaving it impossible to pass for Quads & Sidecars.
Quads
Race 1 saw Justin Reid & Mark McLernon get average starts after good qualification and they both ended up boxed in on lap 1 at the same corner but they worked their way up to sixth & ninth by race end, helped by other riders misfortunes.
Race 2 was better for Mark challenging for the top three against the dominant Americans only for a bearing collapse to stop him in his tracks. A brand new part as well, and Leon Rogers struggled with bike set up to finish fifteenth.
Race 3 and Ireland went into the race in 6th place but in a topsy turvey race where Leon & Justin again got caught in other peoples crashes. They were lying in line astern but behind the Netherlands who had a rider leading when his machine stopped and let Ireland onto the podium, to finish second behind USA and just in front of a heartbroken Dutch team. A great result for Team Ireland once again and shows how competitive Quad racing is at home, and a great example of team riding and never giving up on a day when machines were breaking down all over the track.
Yours in sport
Malcolm Beattie
BTMXMedia
MRA Press Officer
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