The Kawasaki privateer who finished third in the AMCA championship, Gary Gibson, will replace British champ Graeme Irwin in the Irish team for the Motocross of Nations in Red Bud, USA, at the weekend. He’ll line up with Martin Barr and Richard Bird, who replaced the hurt Stuart Edmonds.

As it’s too late to get Gibson’s Kawasaki to the USA, he’ll race Irwin’s KTM and his mechanic will be Irwin’s regular spannerman Bryan Connolly.

Gibson got the call up when Irwin fell in the Italian GP yesterday, breaking his scaphoid and dislocating his wrist. Graeme will be operated on by renowned hand specialist Dr. Eames, but is unlikely he will line up for the final round of the Maxxis British Motocross championship and the Weston Beach Race, both happening later this month. Pic by Mike Wood