By Stuart Campell
THE Mourne Motorcycle Club will host the third round of the 2019 Ulster Adult Motocross Championship at Seaforde MotoParc on May Day.
The first round of the Championship was held at Claudy in March, followed by round two at Desertmartin on Easter Monday.
Although it is early in the season, Belfast man James Mackeral is currently leading the Premier MX1 class ahead of Loughbrickland brothers Jason and John Meara, along with 2018 champion Richard Bird from Lisburn, challenging for the championship lead.
In the Premier MX2 class Ballyclare man Martin Barr is leading ahead of Glenoe rider Glenn McCormick.
The Semi-Expert/MX1 class is wide open at the minute, while in the MX2 class two Seaforde men are aiming for the top with Conor Mullan leading the class and Nathan Green in a top five overall position.
Competition for top places is close in the Clubman MX1 and MX2 classes, while four County Down men are fighting for the lead in the Veteran’s class. Ballynahinch man Jonathan McBride is leading the Veteran’s class, with Moneyreagh man Laurance Spence, Temple rider Richard Watt and Stephen Kelly from Spa all close behind.
Speaking at the launch, Mourne Motorcycle Club Chairman Billy McLarnin said: “This year the Premier riders are riding really hard and they were putting up a good show for spectators at Desertmartin.
“It’s also great to see two young men, Nathan Green and Conor Mullan, at the front in the Semi-Experts class. We should never forget the Clubmen either as there is always great competition in that class.
“I would also like to thank the Ballynahinch Lions and all of our sponsors for their continued support for the Mourne club,” he said.
This year the Mourne club is holding the event with support from Brennan’s Ice Cream & Service Station, The Stick Restaurant @ Brennan’s, Watson’s Flowers (Ballynahinch), Cochranes Car Dismantlers and Rowly Suitor. The Mourne club will also be helped on the day by the Ballynahinch Lions Club, who are always on hand to help at the Mourne club’s events.
Bikes will be out on the track from 9.30am, with the first race to start at 11am. Entry to the event will cost £5 for adults, while children go free and car parking is also free.
Front row (l-r) Stephen Watson (owner of Watson’s Flowers) with his seven-year-old daughter Lucy, Mourne Motorcycle Club Chairman Billy McLarnin, from Annahilt, & Rowly Suitor with his six-year-old daughter Scarlett-Rose.
