Ballyclare rider Charley Irwin made an impressive British Motocross Championship debut at the penultimate round at Duns, finishing 12th overall in the MX1 class aboard the Discount Beds Honda.

The teenager only decided to compete at the tough Scottish circuit after lengthy discussions with his team.

“I only entered to experience what it would be like racing against the top riders in the class. It wasn’t easy!” said Irwin.

After a disappointing qualifying session left him 20th, the Ulster rider admitted he had doubts about continuing.

placeholder image — Ballyclare teenager Charley Irwin was delighted with his impressive British motocross debut. (Photo credit: CI Racing)

“I suppose I was out of my comfort zone and, to be honest, I was ready to go home,” he added.

Irwin regrouped for race one, making a decent start before battling his way through the field to an impressive 13th at the chequered flag.

With his confidence growing, he produced another strong ride in race two, pushing through to 12th and securing 12th overall.

“I surprised myself and, after a difficult qualifying, I’m over the moon to finish 12th overall,” Irwin said.

Loughbrickland’s Jason Meara endured a tough weekend, finishing ninth overall in MX1 on the Moto-Cycle Yamaha after qualifying eighth.

“It was a mixed weekend,” said Meara. “I had to work really hard to get eighth in qualifying. In race one I made a mid-pack start, lying 13th, before battling through to ninth and nearly getting eighth on the last lap.”

Race two followed a similar pattern, with Meara working his way into ninth before being taken out by another rider.

“I went down hard but picked it up to finish tenth. Ninth overall wasn’t the end of the world, but it was a bit further back than where I wanted to be.”

Lennox Dickinson admitted it wasn’t one of his better meetings, but the Coleraine rider still came away with 13th overall.

He said: “It was a difficult weekend before I even got to the track, as my van broke down and I had to get a lift. I was also my own mechanic, which wasn’t ideal.”

Despite the heavy conditions, Dickinson finished tenth in race one before two crashes hampered his second outing.

“I had a coming together with another rider, then came off again near the finish and had to accept 15th. Despite all the problems, at least I got racing,” added Dickinson.

In the MX2 class, Glenn McCormick enjoyed his best result of the season, taking 11th overall aboard the Chambers KTM.

“It was a good day and I was happy enough with what was my best result of the season,” said the Glenoe rider.

After qualifying 12th, McCormick had a good gate pick but made a mediocre start in race one before producing several passes to finish 12th.

“I had fought my way into ninth but made a few mistakes in the last three laps and dropped back,” he said.

"I made a better start in race two and was inside the top six on the opening lap, but unfortunately I was struggling with the bike set-up and finished tenth.”

McCormick now sits 11th in the championship and hopes to break into the top ten at the final round.

Jack Meara overcame a difficult qualifying session when the chain came off his Yamaha, and a small crash hampered his progress.

A good start in race one put Meara in the mix, but he struggled with the pace before recovering to 17th at the flag.

“I was happy with that as it equalled my best British Championship result,” he said.

A poor start in race two left Meara near the back at the opening corner, but he charged through to 12th by the end of the first lap.

“I battled with six riders at one point and finished 15th. That was my best-ever British result, so no complaints,” Added the Moto-Cycle Yamaha rider.

Castlewellan rider Alfie Herron finished ninth overall in the 125 class after finishing tenth in race one and eighth in race two.