Mark McLernon makes impressive start to 2026 Quadcross World Championship campaign

After qualifying his DV Racing Yamaha in fifth, McLernon made a strong start in race one, holding second place for the opening fifteen minutes of the 25-minute plus two-lap race.

He just missed out on the podium after being passed by Manfred Zienecker and Patrick Turrini in the closing stages, crossing the line in fourth.

“I was happy enough, but I struggled with the bike set-up," he said.

"It wasn’t far away, but at the same time, it was very nervous and exhausting to ride in the 25-degree heat."

Another good start in race two saw McLernon run third early on. However, by the chequered flag, he had slipped back to fifth on the hard-packed French track.

He added: “Top five in the world, so all in all, it was a good day, but I need to improve the Yamaha’s handling before the next round in the Czech Republic in two weeks’ time.”

Dungannon rider Daniel Devine made an impressive start to his European 85cc Championship campaign, finishing tenth overall on the Arlene’s Mace Newmills GasGas.

He qualified tenth fastest in his group, but that left him on the outside of the starting gate. At turn 1, he was pushed wide and had to fight back to finish eleventh in race one.

Race two followed a similar pattern, with the local rider again showing great determination to finish ninth.

“My goal was to qualify, so to come away with a top ten overall in my first European Championship meeting is brilliant," Devine beamed.

Portadown’s Ethan Gawley was the overall winner of the B/W85 class at round two of the Plews Tyres British Masters at Hawkstown Park.

The 13-year-old narrowly missed pole position by just one thousandth of a second aboard his K-Tech / Fluid Plumbing and Heating KTM.

However, consistent results across the weekend, including second and third place finishes on Saturday and two second place finishes on Sunday, were enough to secure the overall win.

“Hawkstone is my favourite track, and for the first time this season I was fully fit, so I’m delighted to get the win,” he said.

Eleven-year-old Loanends rider Bradley Thompson raced his JR Fluid Husqvarna to fourth overall in the S/W85 class.

He qualified seventh fastest and finished a solid sixth in race one, followed by a fourth in race two. A crash in race three dropped him to sixth after challenging for third on the last lap. A solid fourth in the final race secured fourth overall.

Ballyclare’s Charley Irwin was a wildcard entry at Hawkstone and came away fourth overall on the Discount Beds Honda in the Amateur MX1 class.

Irwin was tenth fastest in qualifying despite bike issues.

He struggled all weekend off the concrete start line. However, in his opening two races on Saturday, he battled through from the back of the field to finish seventh and third.

Seventh in Sunday’s opening race prompted the team to make a few changes to the bike for the final race, where he ran second until Raife Bradley pipped him in the closing stages.

Third place secured fourth overall and made him the top wildcard finisher across the two days.

In the Open class, Coleraine’s Lennox Dickinson finished seventh overall on the MY SOLAR TRUE Husqvarna, while Glenn McCormick brought the Chambers KTM home in eighth.

In the Junior 65 class, local riders Jake Sayers and Mason Shields finished fifth and seventh, respectively.