MOTORBIKES: Graeme Irwin signs for Buildbase Honda

Lewis Trickett is the lone representative in the MX2 division.

Twenty-three-year-old Irwin, who currently sits fifth in the 2015 Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship standings, with the possibility of climbing into the top three with one round remaining early next month, enjoyed his best season last year. 2014 marked the first campaign for the young East Antrim rider on the 450, and he instantly showed his liking for the larger capacity machine,being a regular front-runner.

As is the case now, 12 months ago Irwin was chasing a top-three ranking and was cruelly robbed of his opportunity of standing on the overall podium at the end of the season by a single point. This was despite a series of rostrum race results over the closing stages and his maiden race win at the final round of the series.

Whilst Irwin has not yet been able to revisit the top step of the box during the 2015 Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship, he has again proved himself to be a threat and a consistent performer throughout the season.

He is again showing his best run of form towards the end of the current campaign.

Irwin’s growing credentials, especially when mounted on the 2016 Honda CRF450R alongside Whatley and Trickett on the 2016 CRF250R, bode well for the official Honda UK Motocross squad next season.

Pleased to be able to confirm and complete his 2016 team at this early point, Buildbase Honda MX Team Manager David Thorpe said: “Graeme is a rider I have been watching for a bit now and has already showed he can mix it with the leading names in Britain. Adding him alongside Kristian means that we are going to have a really strong line up in MX1 next year and I have high hopes as the initial testing we have done on the new CRF450R has been amazing so far. David closed off by saying: “I am already excited just thinking about 2016 and to seeing the guys on the new bikes in the winter.”

After putting pen to paper, a delighted Graeme said:“This is a really good opportunity for me, to have the chance to work with and to ride for Dave and the rest of the team. It’s something I am really looking forward to. I have showed good consistency over the last two seasons and I hope with Dave’s input and the potential of the new bike I can step up a level next year and show why I deserve my place in the team with Kristian and Lewis.”

Graeme added: “I have still got a job to finish off this season, but I am already excited about next year now.”