Full focus on Germany for Mark McLernon after finishing sixth in the Czech Republic

McLernon, who is fifth in the World standings, qualified the DV Racing Yamaha sixth-fastest before claiming two sixth places in his two races.

“It was hard work as the track is so fast and physically demanding,” he said. “We did a lot of work on the bike before the Czech meeting, and although the chassis was better, I needed more power.”

In his opening race, he was fourth at the start before dropping to fifth by the end of the lap. Harry Walker passed him at the halfway point, leaving the local rider to finish a lonely sixth. Race two saw him inside the top eight at the start, then drop to sixth by the chequered flag.

“I made a few mistakes and lost the front group, but in the final laps, I closed back in on Manfred Zienecker, who finished fifth," he reflected.

"It was a good enough weekend, and now on to Germany.”

“It was nice to get that winning feeling again,” admitted Glenoe’s Glenn McCormick after his MX2 overall victory at Seaforde Moto Parc.

Fresh off the ferry into Larne following round three of the British Championship at Lyng, where he secured 11th overall in the MX2 class, he made a last- minute decision to line up at Seaforde.

“It was very last-minute but well worth the effort,” he added.

McCormick was in dominant form throughout the day, racing the Chambers KTM to three hard- fought wins to secure the MX2 overall ahead of Lewis Spratt and Ryan Adair.

McCormick made a poor start to race one, but by lap five had hit the front ahead of James Mackrel, Niall Cregan and Nathan Green. He crashed on the following lap, dropping to fourth before fighting back to win ahead of Mackrel, Green and Cregan in that order.

It was Green on the GOMX Yamaha who led race two until the final lap. McCormick fought back from a poor start to take victory three corners from the chequered flag.

The Glenoe rider secured his treble in the sprint race, while Green maintained his lead at the top of the Expert MX1 championship standings with the overall victory. James Mackrel became the first rider in Ireland to win an Expert MX1 race on an electric bike, taking victory in race one aboard the QM & Clonmel Off Road Stark machine. Mackrel eventually finished second overall, with Niall Cregan third.

Cameron Mackin took top honours in the Semi Expert MX1 class overall, while fifteen-year-old TM rider Alfie Herron claimed the MX2 class.

Jason Meara returned to form at Lyng in the MX1 British Championship, finishing an impressive joint sixth overall. He qualified the Moto-Cycle Yamaha 10th fastest and, after a poor start in race one, charged through from 20th on the opening lap to finish seventh at the chequered flag.

A few bike adjustments improved his start in race two, where he secured ninth place.

“I was delighted with the weekend,” he said. “Qualifying was good, and I was pleased with how I charged through the pack in race one.

“Apart from a nasty blister on my thumb in race two, which made it hard to hold on to the bike, I was really happy with sixth overall.”

Daniel Devine continued his run of success in the B/W85 class with another perfect day at round two of the Pavers Cave Ulster Youth Championship at Loughbrickland MX track, while Caleb Duffy dominated the S/W 85 class. Mason Sheilds wrapped up the Junior 65 class. Elliot Lynd won the Cadet 65, while Zack McCorkell was unbeaten in the Autos. Ben Atkinson and Noah Annett were the respective winners in the 125 and 250 classes.