With a 100%-win record, that’s one win under his belt at the 2025 VMXdN, the American team captain, Ryan Sipes, is back on his DocWob-built YZ 250 with Chris Churchill on the spanners to defend the trophy for Team USA. With Mike Alessi already announced on the squad, the only remaining American to announce is someone who hasn’t raced VMXdN before!
Sipes will be 42 years old when the 2026 VMXdN Hawkstone rolls around, and the Kentucky-born racer is super experienced, having started his professional career in 2004, an amazing 22 years ago and having supercross main event wins as well as MXdN appearances alongside Kevin Windham and Travis Pastrana in his racing resume. He is no slouch.
VMXdN, backed by The Range, has a new home in 2026 as Hawkstone Park in Shropshire takes over hosting duties this year, and with the switch comes a fresh wave of excitement for what’s already the UK’s biggest two-stroke MX gathering. As the rollout of rider announcements continues in the lead-up to the event, one thing’s clear: this year’s edition, running the full August Bank Holiday weekend from the 27th through the 30th, is shaping up to be the biggest yet.
Gates swing open at noon on Thursday, the 27th, kicking off four days of everything a two-stroke devotee could want. Wander the trade village, explore the open paddock, or tackle the track walk on foot (that hill is steeper than it looks, so pace yourself). Friday brings the can’t-miss Show’N’Shine, a proper celebration of classic machinery, followed by an autograph-signing session with a lineup like no other, before the beer tent takes over on Friday and Saturday nights with music and good company. Then Saturday morning, the gate drops and the racing begins in earnest, riders from across the decades and across the globe lining up bar-to-bar, channelling that unmistakable ’90s motocross energy.
Whether you grew up in this era of racing or you’re discovering it for the first time, VMXdN is the place for you.
Spectator tickets and camping passes are available here www.vmxdnhawkstone.com
