MxLarge Story
Martin Barr interview - Chasing the Red Bull Pro Nationals
Interview Tuesday 29th March 2011 By Geoff Meyer
Red Bull Pro Nationals Champion Martin Barr from Ireland is very much a rider who could do with a little luck. Barr has seen a lot in his time as a Motocross race and his victory in the 2010 Red Bull Pro Nationals MX2 class was the start of what looks like a good run for the friendly Irishman.
With the opening round of the 2011 Red Bull Pro Nationals beginning this weekend and Barr of the Proppa.com KTM team is going for victory in the MX1 class and the action will be intense. Barr will come up against the 2010 MX1 Champion Brad Anderson in what will really be an exciting event.
Run at the Fatcat MotoParc this coming Sunday great weather and a large crowd are expected. Red Bull also has a lot of new exciting activities for the fans and riders.
We sat down with Barr and asked him about his Championship victory in 2010 and also what he thinks of the Red Bull Pro Nationals series. We also asked him about his Grand Prix aspirations.
MXlarge: Martin, can you explain what it was like to take your first major Championship, when you won the 2010 Red Bull Pro Nationals MX2 class?
Barr: Winning the Red Bull Pro Nationals has been brilliant. The week before the first round I had an operation on an injury and to win the championship from that first round was great. I mean I went into the first round hoping to just score some good points, but came away with third overall, which was great. It was a good Championship to win and it's never easy.
MXlarge: What makes the Red Bull Pro Nationals so impressive?
Barr: The positive thing is the atmosphere; it's a really cool vibe at the race. We also have all the schoolboys and so many other exciting things involved in the Red Bull Pro Nationals. Music all day long, it seems like you are at a big event and a lot of big races in England don't have that atmosphere, it's really a nice event to be involved in. There is always something happening, always something to watch.
MXlarge: And what stands out for you as the highlight of 2011?
Barr: For sure the Red Bull Pro Nationals calendar is looking good; having Desert Martin back on the calendar is really good for me, which is fantastic. Racing back at home, and to have such a big event back home is going to be a highlight for me.
MXlarge: Tell me about your race at Hawkstone Park a few weeks ago, how did that feel racing against some of the Grand Prix riders?
Barr: Hawkstone Park went ok, I could have done better, in the morning I was third fastest. Desalle and Leok were faster than me. I made a good start in fourth, I was chasing the front guys, but then crashed out, went over the bars pretty hard. I had the pace. The second moto I got the holeshot, but when I went down in the first race I had pretty bad whiplash and I finished 5th, I was battling with some good GP riders, so that was good.
MXlarge: What about your FIM World Championship aspirations in 2011?
Barr: Everyone wants to be World Champion, and obviously with my team this year Proppa.com KTM I get the chance to race seven or eight Grand Prix's, which I am really looking forward to. I want to be able to show people what I am capable of, in the past I wasn't capable of doing that. I have had some bad luck. I was in MX1 when you had to do the fast lap qualification, no races, and that was difficult for me. I want to show people I can run at that level and see how things go.
MXlarge: It seems like your career hasn’t always gone along smoothly?
Barr: Once I came out of schoolboys I went straight into MX1 and I had some crashes and I was young and it knocked me back a year or two. I didn’t have confidence and was just beating my head against the wall. It was also tough because obviously the Grand Prix system suits the top riders, or riders with rich dads and I didn't have the money to be there. It was harder for riders like me to get a GP ride. I've had a few years to figure out what I need to do to perform.
MXlarge: What about the schedule for the Grand Prix. What do you have coming up? How do you think you will do?
Barr: The Grand Prix is never going to be easy, the top ten guys are fast, but I am feeling confident and the Proppa.com 350 is a good bike. Our team is really a great group. My first ride is in Valkenswaard, which is the second round and it will be a hard one for me, but I am up for the challenge.
MXlarge: Obviously next weekend is a big weekend with you coming up against the other top British riders in the Red Bull Pro Nationals opener. How are you looking at that race?
Barr: I want to win it, for sure and I think I have a good chance. The competition in England is good and we have guys like Sword, Anderson, Church and so many others. It’s going to be a good weekend of racing and I can’t wait to see the changes to the series.
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