It was a return to Oakhanger, this time for the Michelin MX Nationals, as they cooperate with the British Championship organisers to bring new venues to the calendar. The conditions were wet, though this is motocross, and we must persevere, even in harsh conditions. The organisers had adapted the track to make it flow a little better, this would have been needed for the Clubman and Youth Classes.
The team setup was cut back after the experience the week before, coupled with the fact it was only Martin Barr running with Jack Lindsay out injured. The track looked fantastic on Saturday, which would have helped the amateur & pro-am riders. After heavy rain overnight on Saturday, Martin was asked to do a track walk with the organisers on Sunday morning. His experience is invaluable to the Michelin MX Nationals Team. The track has hard in places and soft in others and obviously wet, as we’ve said, this is motocross and we have to deal with all conditions. The rider’s perspective was given, and the racing was to go ahead.
Free practice went to plan, with 2 laps going straight into free practice. Martin took his time in the free practice putting in a single slow lap in the time allowed before perfectly hitting the timed session. Martin put in a fast lap, and it was good enough for P3. With the way the MX1/MX2 gate pick structure alternates, this meant that he’d secured an early gate pick that would prove invaluable.
In race 1 Martin made a good start, though he was steered out wide by the pack of riders into the first corner. Then down the straight, a rider made a mistake and Martin almost ran into the back of him. This cost Martin a few positions, making things difficult with visibility. The roost from the riders in front of Martin and the track conditions meant he ran out of roll-off film and had to ride without his goggles. Martin was in a clear position and could still bring it home in 4th place.
In race 2, Martin made another good start, with the same competitor as in race 1 making a mistake in the roller section. After making up positions and settling into the race, Martin made the decision to ride a little more conservatively than usual, with the DNF from the week previously playing on his mind. Now in 5th place, Martin could see 4th place in the distance. As the 2 lapboard was shown, he decided to go for it again and try to make up the position. Putting the hammer down, Martin managed to catch and pass the rider for 4th with 2 corners to go. As he went past the mechanic’s area with the finish line in sight, the rider came back again, cutting across Martin in a hasty manoeuvre, which resulted in Martin losing the front end causing him to go down. Martin still had plenty of time to get back on his bike and ride the 30 yards to cross the line for 5th and 4th overall in the Leatt-sponsored Pro MX1 Class.
Dylan: “The track conditions were tough again this week, with Martin representing the team as a single rider, we decided to downscale and run out of the race van. The track looked prime on Saturday and it was a shame that we had heavy rainfall overnight. It’s hard for the promoters/organisers, to put on events such as this on a completely new track and venue. It’s fantastic that the army is helping by opening up their land to take the sport in a forward direction. I would like to thank the organisers for going the extra mile and making sure motocross in the U.K. is progressing. Martin toughed it out and was unlucky in the second race, though losing a position didn’t change his overall and I’m happy to come away from the weekend with a fit rider and 4th in the Leatt MX1 Pro Championship. We now look forward to the weekend and the Revo British Motocross Championship at Canada Heights. Thanks to all involved, sponsors, Martin and James our mechanic, for getting us through the weekend”.
