Martin Barr Bows Out: An Emotional Final British Championship Race
After more than two decades of competing at the highest level, Irish motocross legend Martin Barr has brought the curtain down on his professional British championship career. The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland has been one of the most consistent and respected figures in the sport, not only representing himself but also flying the flag for Irish motocross across the world.
Last weekend at Lyng, Barr lined up for the final time in a British championship race. True to his reputation for grit and determination, he did so just weeks after surgery on a broken leg sustained at the VMXDN event at Foxhill. Most riders would have stepped aside to focus on recovery, but Barr’s commitment to his team and the sport ensured that he wasn’t going to miss this moment.
“I wasn’t sure how the season would finish after the injury at Foxhills,” Barr admitted. “I had surgery and managed to get almost three weeks before the final round. I was back on the bike just two weeks after the operation because I wanted to be there – for the team and for that final farewell. With the track at Lyng being so technical, with big drop-offs and heavy landings, I had to ride conservatively, maybe at about 80%. My goal was simply to get through it and continue my recovery ahead of the Motocross des Nations.”
Despite being far from fully fit, Barr impressed in qualifying with P8, proving once again why he has enjoyed such a long and decorated career. His first moto started promisingly as he ran inside the top 10, but a small crash cost him positions and rhythm. Even so, he regrouped to bring it home in 13th place.
“I was disappointed to lose places in the first race because I wanted to finish strongly,” Barr reflected. “But given the circumstances, it wasn’t a bad result. If I had been 100% fit, I think I could have been fighting further up the field.”
In the second moto, Barr was determined to give it everything for his last outing. Unfortunately, a poor start left him playing catch-up. True to form, he battled through the pack to finish 12th, which also gave him 12th overall on the day. While not the fairytale result he had hoped for, Barr knew there was more to the day than numbers on a results sheet.
“The bigger picture was about being there, saying goodbye, and thanking everyone,” he said. “It’s been a fantastic four years with Apico Honda. Dylan, Anna, James, my mechanic, and everyone involved – they’ve been amazing. To have them with me at the final round meant so much.”
After the checkered flag fell, Barr expected the routine of noise testing, only to be greeted by his team and supporters waiting on the start straight. It was an emotional surprise and a fitting tribute to a rider who has given everything to the sport.
“It was a really special moment,” he recalled. “There were a few tears shed – not just from me but from others as well. It showed just how much it all meant. That was the end of my professional British championship career, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to sign off.”
Though he has now stepped away from British championship racing, Barr is not quite finished. He has one last race to look forward to – representing Team Ireland at the Motocross des Nations in Ironman. After that, he will close the chapter on an incredible 21-year career that saw him score points in both GP racing and AMA motocross, as well as becoming a pillar of the British domestic scene.
“I won’t be too far away,” Barr added with a smile. “I’ve made lifelong friends in this sport, and I’ll always be around in some capacity. But it was important to finish this chapter properly, and I feel like I’ve done that.”
For fans and fellow riders alike, Martin Barr leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, toughness, and dedication. His journey has been one of passion and perseverance, and his farewell at Lyng was a reminder of the respect he commands throughout motocross.
As he prepares for one last outing on the world stage with Team Ireland, the sport can look back proudly at the career of a man who gave it everything.