Sean Duffy, student
Your wheels? A Kawasaki 250 cc Motocross
Do you take part in Motocross at competition level? Yes, I enter the competitions in Gormanstown every two weeks in the 250cc class. Motocross keeps me fit, it's a god workout for the arm muscles and when you ride up on your legs it works out the leg muscles, especially when you're riding over bumps. I also go kart at competition level. I won the Irish Go Karting championships last year and the Five Nations at Nuts Corner. I'm in the Formula A class for ages 16 and over. The Go Karts are 100cc and go at top speeds of 100 -110 mph. It's much safer than biking though because you can't really fall out of a kart.
Why were you drawn to two rather than four wheels? My friend Jason Peters got me into bikes and we go out on the bikes together.
Was there any family resistance to your riding a bike? My dad got me involved in Go Karting, he used to race in the Formula 4 so he doesn't object to me it, and he actually encourages me to go faster. Motorcross is much more dangerous so my mother worries sick when I'm on the bike.
What do you use your bike for? I use my Kawasaki 250 for entering Motorcross competitions and keeping fit and I also have a scooter, a Yamaha Aerox 50cc. I just use that for messing around in the fields with the lads.
Have you ever had any accidents on the bike? I just sprained my wrist, nothing too serious but it's easy to have accidents. It's very easy to break your wrist or your ankle.
Any tips for survival on two wheels? I'd say be careful when your at the starting line during competitions, that's where most accidents happen, around the first corner when everyone is bunched together. I'd also recommend being careful when braking around corners because you can easily come off.
Have you taken any trips abroad on two wheels? No but I hope to go abroad Go Karting to England. I take the karting more seriously than the motocross. The karting is a big part of my life. The season starts on March 28 th at Tynagh in Galway and runs up until September.
If you won the lottery what would be your dream bike? Definitely a Yamaha R1 would be my dream bike.