January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Ingham: 'I've got plenty left in the tank'
Ingham: 'I've got plenty left in the tank'
Ingham - a living legend in Bermuda motocross - has traded victories with young cotender Zico Majors all season after making a comeback from injury.
At the start of the season Ingham - who has been competing since the seventies- signalled his intention to 'school' the young riders on the commitment and preparation it took to get to the top.
Ingham, who also runs the Mobile Fix-A-Flat business, said he had wanted to show that even at his age he could still be the best in Bermuda - because of the effort he put in off the track.
"Since I've been back all the guys have stepped their game up. They've had to.
"Now everybody seems to have a training plan. Guys are out on the pedal bikes, out in the gym.
"That's what I set out to do. It's a pleasure for me to be able to run with these guys and see them pick their level up."
By rights Ingham's motocross career should have been over years ago. The guys he came up with, racing Mobylettes as kids at PHC, have long since retired.
But his enduring enthusiasm, talent and commitment to fitness have helped him last the distance.
And though he respects his young rivals - particularly Majors who has had his fair share of victories this season - he still believes he can claim the Boxing Day and New Year's Day titles.
"Zico has definitely stepped up his game but I still feel I have something left in the tank.
"He's always been really, really fast but he has learned to stay on the bike too, now he's definitely something to reckon with.
"I think it will go right down to the wire between me and him."
Ingham may have been racing for decades but he still gets that pre-Boxing Day buzz.
With a huge crowd expected, the track at it'=s best and a host of overseas riders at the start line it's simply the best day to be a motocross rider in Bermuda.
"Boxing Day is the start of our champion of champions series. It always brings the crowd out.
"So, of course I want to win it in front of all the fans, it's the biggest event we have.
"Everyone wants to win it and all the guys have been preparing just as hard as me. May the best man win."
The ultimate champion will not be crowned until New Year's Day with the race series spanning over the two meets.
Also in the shake-up for podium spots are Aaron Cannonier and Shakir Smith.
The competition in the expert class will be more intense than ever on Friday with riders coming in from the U.S. and Canada to take part.
Gannon Trott, president of the Bermuda Motocross Association, said the club was hosting the Bermuda Triangle Challenge - a points series between the three countries.
"The whole of the Bermuda expert class will be going up against the Canadians and the Americans.
"Two of the U.S. riders are professionals. The Canadians are still pretty young but they are coming through the ranks on the pro circuit.
"We've got a lot of talent too and there are three or four of our top guys that could hang with the pros."
The series spans Boxing Day and New Year's Day with three motos in each race class on both days.
The overseas riders are James Ragsdale and Blaine Mason in the expert class for the U.S. Brendon Phinning and Kyle Stevens in the expert class for Canada. Ernest Evans in the Novice class for America and Jonathan Fowles in the 85 cc 11-14 class for Canada.[[In-content Ad]]
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