Cole McCullough makes impressive start to 125 motocross career

The 13-year-old, riding the Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee, had a difficult build up to the meeting. A pre-season shoulder injury meant the reigning British MX Nationals S/W85cc champion had not ridden a bike for six weeks.

“I only managed to get back on the bike just over a week ago, spending seven days practicing in Spain,” McCullough said.

His achievement is all the more remarkable as he was not supposed to move up to the 125 class until 2023, but the decision was made to skip the B/W 85 class and go one year early.

In Saturday’s qualifying McCullough, one of the youngest riders in the class, was 11th fastest and in his opening race was lying seventh before a crash dropped him outside the top 20. The determined McCullough fought back to eighth by the chequered flag.

A sixth place in race two after battling through from 15th on the opening lap was a good end to Saturday’s action.

In Sunday’s two motos, the Omagh Academy pupil finished fourth in race one and fifth in his final outing.

“I was really happy how I rode over the weekend and was slightly surprised just how well I went in the 125 class, being a newcomer,” he added.

Ballyclare’s Martin Barr was the best of the local riders in the MX1 class, finishing 13th overall on the Apico Husqvarna, behind double race winner Tommy Searle on the Crendon Fastrack Honda.

Barr was eighth fastest in qualifying despite suffering from a bad cold and in the opening race made a decent start running inside the top six.

A mistake on the opening lap and bad arm pump saw him drop to 11th by the flag.

A difficult race two saw Barr start well but a big crash where he was run over by another rider resulted in a dead leg and a trip to the pits for new goggles. From 27th he clawed