Fast track: Barney Henry enjoys the conditions racing in the MX2 class on his TURX Customs Honda CRF250. (Picture by Andrew Le Poidevin, 0661813)

THE ambulance crews were busy people for the first championship meeting of the new season at Pleinmont.

Three riders were carted off to hospital, one with a broken leg and another with a back injury and enough to keep him out of the next two meetings.

Over the summer a number of the competitors from the 85cc senior group have purchased bigger bikes and upgraded into higher groups.

Two such riders are George McConnell and Chip Le Page, who moved into the youth open group and were looking set to have a close battle for the class honours on the day.

Le Page’s day was nigh perfect as he claimed all three championship races from favourite Jess Dray.

But young McConnell’s day ended just as it had started.

Following an early spill in the first race, he was riding hard and landed heavily on the biggest of the Pleinmont jumps, breaking his leg in the process.