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British Championship

Report: Hitachi KTM

Watson retains red plate.

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Hitachi KTM MX2 riders Ben Watson and Josiah Natzke both made it to the podium at round three of the British Motocross Championship at Canada Heights in Kent on Sunday 30th April.

With Hitachi KTM’s MX1 rider, Jake Nicholls, out for the foreseeable future after dislocating his hip in a freak accident at a round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, it was down to the team’s two MX2 riders (Ben Watson and Josiah Natzke) to get the results. While Josiah set the second-fastest qualifying time behind Mel Pocock, Ben struggled with the track conditions and could only manage eighth place.

Harri Kullas got the holeshot at the start of the first MX2 moto from Natzke, Pocock, Todd Kellett and Martin Barr. Ben did not get the start that he wanted, so was down in tenth place with a lot of work to do. Towards the end of the second lap, Pocock found a way around Natzke and pushed the young New Zealander down to second place. Watson, meanwhile, had already passed three riders and was up to seventh place on the hard track that had very little opportunities for overtaking.

With three laps to go Watson passed Barr, who was suffering with a mechanical problem on his Honda, and moved into fifth place; the position he would end the race. Kullas won by just under eight seconds from Pocock with Natzke third, Kellett fourth and Watson fifth after making the best he could from his bad start.

The second MX2 race started much better for the two young riders. Natzke followed race leader Barr around turn one and took the lead before the end of the first lap. Watson gated fourth, which made things a lot easier for himself. By lap five, and with Natzke still in the lead, Watson was up to second place and closing on his teammate. Kullas was in fourth place, however, and pushing on hard and fast. At half distance Natzke began to struggle, letting Watson through and into the lead, while a lap later Barr and Kullas pushed him down two further places to fourth place.

Watson crossed the finish line first, just under three seconds clear of Kullas, with Barr third. Natzke hung onto fourth place ahead of Michael Eccles, Josh Gilbert and Liam Knight. Overall it was Kullas, with Ben and Josiah filling the next two steps on the podium. Watson is still the leader in the championship standings, but with a smaller margin.

The Hitachi KTM team’s next event is round seven of the FIM Motocross World Championship at Kegums in Latvia next weekend.

Ben Watson: “The day has turned out okay in the end, but in race one I got a really bad start and that was my race done. The track was so hard, because of the lack of rain, and it was very fast with just one racing line. With a lot of the riders going at the same pace, it was very difficult to make a pass. Things were much better in race two, as I was about fifth going out of turn one and managed to work my way through for the win. The track was a bit rougher, which helped with passing a lot, and I am still in the lead of the championship, so still have the leader’s red plate going onto the next round.”

Josiah Natzke: “I am happy with today, as my starts were good and it always helps when you get good starts. I had a good first moto, but tightened up a little bit halfway through. It all came back to me for the latter part of the race for third. In the second I was leading until I got really bad arm pump and faded back to fourth place. It’s great to get my first podium, so I have to be happy.”

Words: Press Release | Lead Image: MPS Images

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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