Loughbrickland lad performs for 50,000

The Mary Peters Trust supported rider was competing in the first round of the Honda 15o European Championships.

After qualifying a respectable 17th out of 40 riders, Cailum rode a strong race on the Saturday to finish a solid 11th at a difficult sandy circuit.

On Sunday, in front of 50,000 motocross fans, Cailum posted the third fastest time in warm up, but shortly afterwards was thrown from his bike and broke his collar bone, ruling him out of the event, and also the next round at Matterly Basin in Hampshire at the end of May.

Cailum is bitterly disappointed at the result, but encouraged by his pace, and by the reaction to him within the Honda organisation with Davy Dousselaere, Honda Off Road Manager, praising his professionalism and preparation for the event.

Cailum will be back in action at the German Round on 21-22 June and he is also relieved to hear that the most expensive round to get to, Sweden, has now been replaced by a round at Lommel in Belgium in August, easier and cheaper to get to from Ireland.

The series is led at the moment by Finnish starlet and Championship favourite Jere Haavisto and Dutch wildcard entry Rick Elzinga on 47 points each, with another Finn, Matias Murto third.

Meanwhile, Cailum’s brother was in action at last week’s MRA Ulster Motocross Championships at Seaforde Motocross Park.

John continued his return from injury on the TMC Honda finishing in 12th place after a third race non score. Jason, however, is still recovering from injury.

In the Premier MX1 Class, the ever reliable Ryan Adair from Dromara finished sixth overall.

In Semi Expert MX1, Loughbrickland veteran Cliffy Bailey showed the youngsters how to ride hard pack with a superb second overall.