Quad Racing Ireland hosted the third round of the ACU British Quad championships of 2022 at the Tandragee track in Northern Ireland. The track was in great condition, and sunny all weekend.
This week’s hottest battles were between local rider Mark McLernon and Harry Walker who is still fighting hard to close the gap at the top of the championship standings.
The first race got underway with an early lead for Mark McLernon going on to take a safe lead, holding on for this first win of the day and a wheelie over the finishing line in front of a home crowd. David Cowan worked hard after a slow start to take second after a great battle with Dean Dillon. Oli Sansom fought through to fourth ahead of Murray Graham, Harry Walker recovered for a slow start to take sixth. Kevin Meenagh gained two places on the last lap to take a well deserved seventh.
In race two Mark McLernon lead from Dean Dillon, he pulled out another safe lead holding on for his second win of the day. Going into lap two Harry Walker held fifth, and was going like a rocket, picking off his rival until he tucked into second and closed the gap on the lead but had to settle for second. Dean Dillon held a good third just ahead of David Cowan with Murray Graham fifth.
In the final championship race of the day there was a problem at the start when not all the start gates dropped, this was quickly fixed, and the race was re-started. This time Murray Graham took the holeshot holding the lead for most of the first lap, but he went sideways into the big berm at the bottom of the hill and lost a few places. This allowed Mark McLernon to lead into lap 2 but this time the competition was strong with Harry Walker having a good start and tucking onto second working hard to find a way past. The pair battled hard for the whole race with less that a second between the pair for most of the race. Mark McLernon made sure he didn’t leave a way past, ensuring a third win. Despite Harry Walker trying the inside and outside lines to gain an advantage all challenges were well defended, and he took second, the rivals shook hand as they crossed the line with a great cheer from the crowd – what a race. Behind Dean Dillon held third with Murray Graham holding on for fourth.
With eight of nine possible race wins Mark McLernon keeps the championship lead, Harry Walker is still fighting hard in second with Murray Graham holding third.
Don’t miss round four on 17 July at Wakes Colne, where the battle for the championship will continue.