Sunday, May 1 2011
1st May 2011
HM Plant Red Bull KTM endured a challenging day at Milton Park, Northampton yesterday for round four of the Maxxis British Motocross Championship with Graeme Irwin and Jordan Booker fighting back from first turn tumbles and tough races for 14th and 10th overall in their respective MX1 and MX2 classes.
The hardpack Milton Malsor track had been well-watered ahead of the morning’s qualifying session and Irwin was ninth going into Superpole, although mistake on his flying lap dropped him back to 11th on the gate. A similar situation occurred for Booker as he was eighth in qualifying and was on a storming superpole lap when he slipped off at the final turn and ended up 12th on the gate ahead of this afternoon’s races.
In the first MX1 race Irwin went down at the first turn of the 20-minute plus two-lap moto and was well outside the top 20 at the end of lap one. The determined Ulsterman got to work aboard his KTM 350 SX-F and rode a strong race around the Northampton track, which progressively dried out throughout the day, to finish just outside the top 10 in a well-earned 11th place.
In race two Irwin got a good start and was fourth into the first turn. The 19-year-old lost a number of positions in the early stages as he found his rhythm and although backmarkers made passing difficult, the youngster rode his way to ninth place. In the final race of the day Irwin found it tough to get going as the track became more one-liney and brought his HM Plant Red Bull KTM race machine home in 11th place to confirm 10th overall on the day. The KTM racer is now lying equal seventh in the ultra-competitive MX1 championship at the halfway stage in the series.
In the opening MX2 race Booker didn’t get the best of starts and fell at the first turn. The 18-year-old KTM pilot recovered from almost dead last to a point scoring 18th place finish. In the second race Booker tried a different line off the start into the super-tight first turn and disaster struck again, as he slipped off to rejoin the race at the back of the field. Booker stayed with Bryan Mackenzie, who had also fallen, as they chased through the pack together, and came back through to 18th place once again.
In the final moto of the day Booker gated into 12th aboard his KTM 250 SX-F, but enjoyed a strong ride, passing Sunny Thompson on the final lap of the race to finish in ninth place and 14th overall.
Graeme Irwin #555: 10th Overall MX1 “I was ninth in qualifying, but I messed up my Superpole lap and I ended up 11th, although the start is pretty even here from the left side. In the first race I went down at the first corner, but I got back to 11th, which I was happy enough with coming from last, and I was riding good. In the second race I got a good start into third or fourth at the first turn. It took me a few laps to get into it, but towards the end I started to catch up again, especially in the last few laps. Unfortunately by that time there were a lot of backmarkers and it was hard to pass. In the last race I got an average start and just struggled a wee bit. Hopefully soon it’s going to turn around a bit and go my way, but we’ve just got to keep working at it. We have plenty to improve and I move back to England this week to try and get things going forward a bit more.
” Jordan Booker #114: 14th Overall MX2 “Today hasn’t really been my day to be honest. Qualifying was pretty good; I was eighth, and then in my Superpole I was on for a really good lap but dropped it at the last turn and ended up 12th, which wasn’t so bad but not what we could have done. In the first moto I didn’t get such a good start; I went down in the first turn and was dead last, so it was just a case of doing the best I could. In the second heat I tried a different line on the start but went down again and ended up coming through from last again. I stayed with Bryan Mackenzie the whole race into around the top 20. In the last one I didn’t get a good start again, but made it around the first turn alive this time and came from the top 20 to ninth. To be honest after riding the GP’s I’ve struggled with the short races, as I was catching everyone up at the end. I just need to work on my starts and speed in the first few laps to not let everyone get ahead.
” Roger Magee: HM Plant Red Bull KTM Team Manager “It has been bit of a mixed day in both classes with Jordan going down off the start in both of the first two MX2 classes and Graeme also crashing at the first turn in the MX1 class. Jordan fought through into the points in the first two races and had a good ride in the last one to ninth position, which wasn’t so bad. Graeme fought to 11th in the first race and finished top ten overall. Getting back onto the hardpack this week after the sand of Valkenswaard last weekend may have taken them a little while to adjust to, although I don’t really think the Milton Malsor track justifies a British Championship race because it’s like a schoolboy or a practice track. The start line incidents at the first corner, where we saw a pile up in every race, needs to be looked at if we ever come here again. Hats off to Ryan Houghton in the MXY2 class, as he took the overall and is now within a couple of points of the championship lead, and I’m also pleased to report that Jake Nicholls will be back on the bike next week, while hoping to return to racing at the next Grand Prix in Europe, which takes place in France.”
