Ian Greer, Michael Barrable, John McCluskey and Liam McCarthy in Toyota Celica GT4s, Ray Breen in a Ford Escort WRC and Subaru drivers Daniel Doherty and Frank O'Mahony are the fancied drivers for Sunday's RIAC/Red Mills National Championship opener, the Downhill Hotel Mayo Stages Rally run out of Ballina.
Greer won this event last year and also the Cork `20'. He was second in the recent Galway International and will no doubt set a blistering pace over the 3x3 stages at Mellick, Coolshinnagh and Middle Lough in the Swinford-Kiltimagh area. Barrable will be out to make up for a difficult 1998 season. McCluskey also has his sights on the Vard Trophy. Doherty is tipped as a rising star, and also in Subaru Imprezas are O'Mahony, Gabriel Snow, Mick McQuaid and local driver Noel McCarrick.
The entry of 130, with 78 reserves, also includes Hal Lewis in a Metro 6R4, Ivan Stewart, Rory O'Connor, Joe McGurk and James Harrison in Escort Cosworths, Norman Armstrong, Pat McCafferty, Eugene Ferry, Camillus Bradley, Paul Parkes in Escort Mk2s, Charlie Donnelly (Toyota Celica), John Duffy (Toyota Corolla) and David Armstrong in a Sierra Cosworth.
Belfast's John Gilleece, champion in 1997 and 1998, will not start his championship challenge until the Circuit of Kerry on April 11th. Likewise, last year's runnerup, Niall Maguire (Monaghan), will also miss the opening round.
The pressure is on Laurence Gibson of Banbridge to maintain his lead in the RIAC National Rallycross Championship as he competes in the fifth round at Mondello Park on Sunday. Gibson, in his Metro 6R4, has a 10-point lead over Dermot Carnegie in his very quick Ford Escort Cosworth. The Irish Enduro Championships commence on Sunday with the East Cork MCC's Ardpatrick even near Mitchelstown, Co Cork. Heading the entry is Ulsterman Adrian Lappin, the 1998 Irish Championship winner on his TM machine.
Weekend Fixtures
Sunday - Ballina MC, Downhill Hotel Mayo Stages, Rally, starts Ballina, 11 am; RIAC National Rallycross Championship Round 5, Mondello Park, 11 am; East Cork MCC, Enduro, Ardpatrick, Co Cork, 11 am; North Dublin MC, Moto Cross, Gormanstown, Co Meath, 12 pm; Dalcassian MCC, Motorcycle Trial, Woodcock Hill, Co Clare, 12 pm.
Main Motocross/Grasstrack Championship dates - 1999: Irish Motocross Championship - adult: April 10th: Mourne MCC. May 23rd: Irish Schoolboy MCC. July 3rd: Lisburn MCC. August 29th: Dundalk MCC.
Irish Motocross Championship - Youth: March 13th: Ballymoney. April 17th: North of Ireland MC. May 22nd: Irish Schoolboy MCC. July 3rd: Dundalk MCC. July 31st: Errigal MCC. August 28th: Cookstown MCC.
Southern Centre Championships: Southern Centre Youth Motocross Championship: April 3rd: South-East MCC. May 3rd: North Dublin MC. May 15th: Dundalk MCC. July 25th: North Dublin MC. August 7th: South-East MCC.
Southern Centre Adult Motocross Championship: April 18th: Dundalk MCC. May 2nd: North Dublin MC. May 16th: Fastlane MCC. June 20th: Munster MC and CC. July 4th: Irish Schoolboy MCC. August 8th: South-East MCC.
Southern Centre Youth and Adult Grasstrack Championship: May 9th: Dublin and District MCC. July 11th: North Dublin MC. July 18th: Dundalk MCC. August 15th: East Cork MCC. August 22nd: Irish Motor Cycle Club.
