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British Championship

Report: Verde Sports

A turbulent second round.

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The second round of the Maxxis ACU British Championship was held at Lyng, a fabulous track down in Norfolk. The crowd’s turned out in droves, the weather was fabulous, the team were in good spirits and the riders felt on form. However, the racing didn’t quite go to plan.

The track had been well prepared and was in excellent condition, as usual. It rode well, although it was a bit dry, and when the soft stuff cut up it was pretty hard and slippery in sections beneath. Jake enjoyed the practice, as the track felt “mint.” It was a bit slippery in places, but it suited him well. He slotted in a quick first lap, which put him straight into fifth position, and he held this spot throughout the session. Fifth gate pick for the day was a good start and it showed he has got the speed.

It was not quite as good a session for Brad. The track was pretty hard and slippery, now that the loose sand had cleared in places. On one quick lap he came off, on another he stalled and then on a third a rider held him up. His third lap was his best and he managed to obtain ninth-gate pick for the day.

A good start to race one for young Jake Millward, as he moved around the first bend into a comfortable fifth place. He chased Brad Todd and eventually passed him into fourth place. Then his front end slipped and Jake lost a lot of places. The bars were twisted, which made it hard to ride. He held tight and made his way back into thirteenth place. A disappointing first race, but scoring points always counts in the championship standings.

A good start for Brad Anderson in his first race, as he sat in fifth place and looked strong. The front three riders got a clean break, leaving Brad to chase down Elliott Banks-Browne in fourth. [Kristian] Whatley tried to latch on, but Brad just kept widening the gap between them. Then disaster struck, however, as his back-brake seal went and things started to go wrong. He immediately lost places to Whatley, [Harri] Kullas and [Gert] Krestinov.

Brad was determined to finish the race, but had to ride cautious. Unfortunately he had to let another couple of riders through on the last lap, so was left with a tenth place finish in race one. It was not ideal, but points were scored and he was ready for race two.

Jake got an excellent jump out of the gate in race two, as he came around in fifth place. He quickly moved into third place, but then a rider hit Jake and totally wiped him out! Jake managed to get back on the bike, but was right back in last place with a lot of ground between him and the front pack of riders. The track was very fast and narrow, with few places to make passes, but Jake managed to pull back from thirty-eighth to twenty-first. It was not a great way to finish the day, as no points were scored.

Brad’s start wasn’t quite as good in race two and he came up the start straight in eighth. Within the first lap, he found his way through to sixth behind Ashley Wilde. It took the first half of the race for Brad to find a way through into fifth. By this time the front four were way ahead, however, and there was no way that he could make up sufficient ground to catch. Brad rode the second half of the race in a comfortable fifth place, holding off Whatley to the end.

Overall this was one of the worst day’s racing in Jake’s career (13-21) as he was eighteenth overall. Jake’s lack of points cost him dearly in the championship, as he slipped from sixth place down to eleventh. Brad, on the other hand, went 10-5 for seventh overall. This wasn’t ideal, but he still managed to hang onto fourth place in the championship. Today has made it much harder work to climb into third place in the championship, as the gap between him and Steven Lenoir is now far greater. Ando, however, is a fighter, so he will almost certainly pull something out of the bag at Canada Heights in just three weeks.

Jake Millward: “Qualifying went well, getting the fifth-fastest lap time. That was good, as I am never usually up there in qualifying. I got an okay start in the first race and passed a few guys to get into fifth. On the fourth lap I crashed, dropped way back down the order and was riding with a bent-up bike. I managed to pull back to thirteenth.

“I got a really good start in the last race. I was in third when an out-of-control rider wiped me out! I was dead last with a big gap between me and the guy in front. I came back to twenty-first, which wasn’t ideal at all, but I got the third-fastest lap of the race. There were some positives to take away.”

Brad Anderson: “I had difficulty getting a fast lap in for qualifying and ended up seventh. The first race wasn’t a good start, but I came through to fifth and was chasing down fourth when my back-brake seal went. I came off trying hard to get some points, but I kept going and ended up tenth. In the second race I got out the start better and was coming through. It took me ages to pass a rider and the front few had gone, so I ended up fifth. I’m still sitting in fourth overall in the championship, so thanks to Verde Sports. I’m looking forward to Valkenswaard on the two-stroke. Thanks to everyone who helps me.

Adrian Kirk: “Today was not really a good day’s racing for the team. Jake will have to put 110% into every round in order to recover from today’s championship slide. Brad had the speed and determination, but needs to work on his starts to prevent the frontrunners getting such a gap ahead of him. Glad this weekend is over, so we can put it behind us and move onto round three at Canada Heights.”

Words: Press Release | Lead Image: ConwayMX

British Championship

Bickers to supply UK market with Alpinestars

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This is great news for UK motocross dealers, who can now order Alpinestars Boots and Protection for the motocross and enduro community.

Full PR:
Bickers are pleased to announce a new partnership with Alpinestars, from 2024 Bickers will be a
newly appointed distributor of Alpinestars Off-Road range of MX, Enduro and Trials footwear and
protections.

Alpinestars has been redefining protection for motorcyclists ever since the company was established
in 1963. Commitment to innovation has led Alpinestars to become the world-leading manufacturer
of professional motorsport racing products, motorcycling airbag protection, high-performance
apparel, technical footwear, and helmets. Alpinestars understands that the best design and research
is achieved under extreme conditions. Their involvement in Formula 1, NASCAR, MotoGP, World
SBK, AMA Supercross and Motocross, MXGP, Dakar and more has led to the creation of the most
advanced technical equipment for the racing world’s top athletes.

Bickers and Alpinestars will be working together in the UK and Ireland (via Bickers Dornan) to create
an industry leading integrated sales program, reaching the Bickers dealer network; carrying stock in
2 strategic locations in the UK and Ireland to ensure next day delivery on all items.
Stock is in the UK and available now, to see the range visit alpinestars.com or bickers-online.co.uk.

Chris Hillard (Alpinestars Communications Manager)

Alpinestars are pleased to welcome Bickers as a distributor of our MX/Off-Road range in the UK and
Ireland. With their proven record in offering next day service to dealers; we see Bickers as a logical
partner to add to our already strong network of Dealers and Distributors in the region. With focus on
offering keystone hard goods from our range; namely Footwear and Protection. Central to our plan,
inside July/August 2024 Bickers will also become an Official Alpinestars repair and service center for
MX Goods, with the aim of increasing efficiency for our UK/Ireland based racers and customers
moving ahead, and we look forward to developing this partnership.

Derek McMartin (Bickers)
“Bickers are extremely excited to be able to service and sell Alpinestars Range of Off-Road Footwear
and Protection and cannot wait to start offering these great products to our dealers”
To see what Bickers offer, please go to bickers-online.co.uk
You can visit the Full Range at Alpinestars direct alpinestars.com.

Picture – KTM Group

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Breaking News

NPC 2024 IS ON! All eyes are on Oakhanger.

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Oakhanger will host the first round of the NPC series this weekend. Gulf Racing Fuels, which will support the series for the next three years, will be in attendance. The line looks impressive, while entry lists are still being worked on. Starting a series from scratch is always hard, but trying to do that in a recession and with industry budgets at an all-time low is even more challenging. The guys behind the NPC have been working around the clock to make this happen.

MX1 and MX2 classes will provide some exciting racing with this at the weekend. MX1 will see Tristan Purdon, Brad Todd, Jamie Carpenter, Carlton Husband, Tom Grimshaw, John Adamson, Dan Thornhill, Chalie Putnam, and Aaron Patstone lining up. MX2 will offer some great racing with Charlie Cole, Charlie Heyman, Ollie Colmer, Ben Mustoe, Glen McCormick, Callum Mitchell, Syd Putnam, Ben Franklin, Harvey Cashmore and Liam Bennet all looking to get some hours in the bank racing.

Justin Barclay and Alfie Smith have produced a stunning track for riders to compete on. As I’m typing this update, more British riders are signing up, and they will be confirmed every day leading up to what will be a historical event. I say historical because I believe this series will go from strength to strength and offer one of the best championships in the UK and, hopefully, Europe.

The Acerbis is cancelled this weekend, so places at the NPC are filling up fast. There are four groups, and wildcards are still available in each group.

Entries for the event can be accessed here: https://nora92.com/event/nora-pro-championship-round-1/#tribe-tickets

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British Championship

Andrew Short confirmed for the 2024 VMXdN at Foxhill

No Short measures for Team USA

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The promoters for the annual VMXdN Foxhill have announced that former factory HRC, KTM Factory Racing and Monster Energy Yamaha rider Andrew Short will be racing at the legendary Wiltshire Grand Prix circuit over August bank holiday weekend (August 22nd-26th) as part of the American squad.


Words: Press Release | Lead Image: Supplied


Short has had a stellar sixteen-year pro career, during that time, he earned over 50 podium finishes and nine wins, he is also one of the nicest guys you could wish to meet. One of his personal highlights was being part of the American Team that won the 2010 Motocross of Nations held in his home state of Colorado. 

After he retired from professional motocross at the end of 2016, Short then worked as a team advisor and brand ambassador for Factory Honda HRC before making a big transition to compete in rally racing and take on the ultimate rally race – the Dakar.

After a steep learning curve, he was able to become competitive in rally and even took his first win at the 2019 Rallye du Maroc, a leadup to the 2020 Dakar. He raced for the Rockstar Husqvarna team as well as the Monster Energy Factory Yamaha rally teams.

After a nasty injury while riding at home, he is now back to full fitness and bang up for the challenge that is Foxhill, the greatest 2-stroke event in the world. Short will race a 2002 YZ 250 built and maintained by the crew at DocWob. Team USA won the inaugural event in 2022 and finished 3rd behind Team GB and Team Northern Ireland in 2023. 

The race is already creating a huge buzz with new and returning legends being announced weekly, it really is a whos’ who of the sport through the golden heydays of the 90’s and 00’s era.

Labelled by RacerX magazine as “the Woodstock of two strokes” the event simply goes from strength to strength.

With ticket sales up year on year, the promoters have been blown away at the response to the event and are urging spectators to purchase tickets asap. Could this be the first outdoor motocross event in the UK to be ticket only? Camping passes will be capped at last year’s numbers as simply putting it – it was full!

Ensure your place at the most anticipated event on the British MX calendar by booking early.

Saturday, Sunday, Weekend and Camping passes are available at https://vmxdnfoxhill2024.eventbrite.co.uk

Keep up to date with all the VMXdN Foxhill news

www.vmxdnfoxhill.com 

www.facebook.com/vmxdnfoxhills 

https://www.instagram.com/vmxdnfoxhill/

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