Richard Bird Interview

For anyone following Irish Motocross racing over the last few seasons Richard Bird has been one to watch – continuously rising up the ranks in grade A, Richard is already knocking on the door for a win in the highest level of Irish motocross. Coming off his best year of racing so far Richard has quickly but quietly worked his way to the front Don’t be mislead however by his recent successes It hasn’t always been a bed of roses for the 20 year old Lisburn motocross star especially when he took his first tentative step into the motocross world. “my cousins had bikes and I only lived 1 mile away from Thorntons so I was always down there watching and got a bike one day, it took me about 4 years to get up there and there was a bit of wrecking done the first few years!” he admits “whenever I got on to 80s it started going a bit better and it has just went on from there” Richard has now been riding bikes for over ten years but unlike many of his current competitors he choose to ride in the YMSA racing club for his schoolboy career “The YMSA was more fun for me than the MRA was a lot more pressure I was just there for a bit of craic and enjoyed it”

With his new found speed and potential for all to see on 80s, it was only a matter of time before things began to go up a level “The year I moved in 125s it became more serious I went to the MRA schoolboys and moved into the MRA adult B class and it has just progressed to where I am in the As now” despite things only beginning to get serious when he moved into the 125 class 4 years ago substantial progress has been made and people are starting to take notice. Richard is now is a regular podium finisher at every round he enters but that elusive first adult moto win of his career continues to elude him despite a huge effort at Tinker hill back in August. After a good start Bird Moved past Wayne Garret and Tommy Merton easily early on in the moto and pulled what looked like a race winning lead but then things took a turn for the worse “It was a bit wet that race I went for it at the start but my arms arms pumped up and that was it!” he concedes.

Overall though it was his most successful season of his career to date clinching 2nd place in the MX2 championship meaning his goal of 2007 was reached “Yea I’m happy enough it didn’t start off too good but it started coming better half way through the year. I wanted to get top 3 in at least one championship and I managed to get 2nd in the MX2 class so I was happy with that”

The bar has been raised now but Richard isn’t going to rest on his laurels with a full assault planned on seemingly every races series available to him “I am Staying with the same team next season hopefully I can get top 3 in all the domestic championships next year also I will do a bit more training to and also get a race win next year, I wanted one this year but definitely in 08! Also next year we are thinking of doing the Under 21s as well as doing a few more British Adults rounds not just the home one so it should give me that bit more experience.”

During the season his training plays an important role “I try and practice 1 – 2 times a week and do circuit training plus a lot of running and some cycling as well “ but in a bid to aid in his 2008 preparation Bird will be heading to the Spanish sun for two weeks pre season riding and training “For next year I will be heading to Tenerife with the motocross365 outfit then to Malaga for another week for more riding then come back and start the season after that, It definitely helps a lot because its hard to get out practising over here when it gets dark early and raining so it helps a lot for sure.”

While many people will be looking forward to a good rest over the winter months motorbikes will still be ruling Richard's Saturdays with the Winter Supermoto series as well as a few trips over to Scotland to race, doesn’t he ever get tired of racing “ what else would I do on a Saturday?” He grins!

By: Jonathan McCready, Photos: Paul McCready