ROUND 1 PREVIEW COOKSTOWN SIZZLER ON THE CARDS

The World famous Grand Prix track of Desertmartin hosts the opening round of the 2017 Ulster Quadcross, Sidecarcross & Youth Quadcross Championships on 11th March, which is a double header round incorporating the Irish Quadcross, and the return after more than 20 years of the Irish Sidecarcross Championships.

Ballymac Hotels Premier Quad ended with Comber Veteran Justin Reid taking the Ulster & Irish Championships in 2016, ending the 5 year monopoly of Banbridge man David Cowan.

Reigning British Champion Hillsborough’s Mark McLernon, may feel aggrieved at cancellations and shortened rounds robbing him of the chance to catch Reid, and he will, be out for revenge, and to prove what many believe, that he is the fastest Quad rider in Europe on his day, add in Navan’s Leon Rodgers, current British Under 21 Champion, and Michael McAneney from Limavady, as well as up and coming Newtownards man Blake McCormick, as well as young 17 year old Scot Lorne Sinclair, winner of 2016 Clubmans Championship and the stage is set for another season of classic, close racing

The Clubmans Class in 2016 also produced some close with Lorne Sinclair narrowly beating Saintfield teenager Ben Colhoun for the Championship with Sinclair now promoted to the Premier Class, expect, Ben Carey, Sean Cassidy and Graham Ballentine to be at the business end too.

In the Gilchrist Plant Hire Sidecarcross Class, reigning Champion Lisburn man Neil Campbell with English passenger Greg Parmenter produced a perfect season, running unbeaten to clinch his fifth Championship in a row, however Lisburn crew Gary Moulds & Alan Gardner will be hoping to step up the challenge this year, along with Dean Faulkner, and promising new crew Geoff Ingram and David Ingram showing impressive form in practice, this looks to be an exciting season with a British Championship Round just a few weeks away at Desertmartin too.

In the Junior Quad Championships new rules may allow new names to surface, in the 250cc Class expect Dean Young, with Jack Young and Curtis Sizer to feature, the 110cc Class big names in 2016 were Andrew Black with Ross Dillon and Eden Douglas and Luke Dillon Jackson Kington, Travis Toye and Adam Gibson were the riders to beat.

Racing starts at 11.00 with three races per class, track is signposted off the main Desrtmartin to Maghera Rd, entry is £5.00 with under 14’s going free, come along for a great days family entertainment.