Irwin relishing prospect of new Motocross season

Graeme rode Suzukis back in 2008 and by the end of the season, was crowned Ulster and Irish MX2 champion. That year, he broke his collarbone in a moto race, but finished the race to claim the points which would ultimately win him the championship.

“I will never quit. I will never, ever quit. If you are going to put 110 per cent in, you have to sacrifice 110 per cent. It was the most sore thing I have ever done in my life, but it was well worth it,” he recalled.

His attitude and commitment is just the same now, at the end of 2012, as it was four years ago. And just like 2008, Graeme is back on Suzuki machinery and gunning for a double title success. This time the goals are bigger. He has his sights set on the MX2 Maxxis British Championship and the Red Bull National titles and, if all goes to plan, six Grand Prix.

2012 was a big year for the local rider: he had just completed his first two professional seasons in the British Championship and GPs wrecked by injury, yet he came to the first round of the British Championship in full of confidence and promptly put it on the podium. His speed would remain high all year, and this time he stayed fit, finishing his season off with another podium in the British Championship.

His performances have earned him a deal with Neil Prince and Suzuki GB and he hopes this relationship will take him to the next stage in his career.

“I am really, really happy with the deal. I gelled with the Suzuki when I rode it back in 2008. I won the Ulster and Irish MX2 titles on it and the bike has come on a whole lot from then, so it is really, really good. I believe a big thing that clinched the deal for me was getting to work with Neil. His experience alone is priceless. You can’t buy that.

“I think everybody knows I have got the speed, I just need to polish the rough edges and I think Neil is the man for the job.  Adam Lyons will also be helping guide me in the right direction as well. With them two behind me it should hopefully be a really good guide. Fingers crossed, we can make something happen next year.”

Looking back on 2012, Irwin said he was delighted with how the year panned out. “I had a big crash at the start of the year with Tonus. I was quite gutted about that because I really felt strong and everything was coming together quite nicely.

“I think if that hadn’t happened it maybe would have been different. I lost third place in the British Championship by six points behind Bryan MacKenzie, I know there is a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’, however, it would have been nice to do that.

“This year was about getting my name back out there. After having two seasons off with serious injuries, I sat down and said it is going to take a year to get back into it and get the speed back, but for next year I want to be at the front.”

So, what are the chances of doing GPs in 2013? “We have talked about maybe doing six GPs but first of all, and I respect Neil for saying it, if my speed is not there or I am struggling a bit in the British Championship, then we will not do them. If everything is going to plan, we are going to do as many as possible.”

On his chances of winning the British titles this year, Irwin said: “I know it sounds cocky to some people but next year I really, really want to win. I want to give it my best shot. I work hard, I am not a guy that says he wants to win and goes out in the week and rides the bike and expects it to happen at the weekend. I am a strong believer in you only get out what you put in. My training has started already; I am only a month in and I am a lot fitter and in a better position than what I was this time last year because I came in from breaking my neck and I had no base fitness at all as I wasn’t able to do anything for five or six months. So I am really looking forward to the season, staying away from injuries and getting into the year as healthy as possible.

When I broke my neck it was a big black spot in my career, but I never ever thought about quitting. That was never in my head. Some people were like ‘you’re so lucky’, but at the end of the day, it’s what I love and it where my passion is.

“Watching others race was frustrating, it wasn’t easy at all. I think it has made me a smarter rider, this year I had to have an injury-free season and I did that. So I am just looking forward to 2013.”

One of his first rides on Suzuki will be at the Arenacross at Belfast’s Odyessy Arena in front of a home crowd. “I am really looking forward to it. I am going to start riding the bike in the first or second week of December and I am going to do a lot of testing for it because I think I am doing all of the Arenacross series, depending how I get on in the first couple of rounds.

“I have got to be smart about it. If I am struggling, I will knock it on the head and concentrate on trying to win the British championship and the Red Bull Nationals.”

Irwin thanked his sponsors: Chris Scarlett of WJ Scarlett and Sons, Bodylab NI, Edgar Electrical, JRM Pallet Solutions, All Threads Suzuki, Troy Lee Design helmets and Alpinestar Gear.