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British Youth and Amateur

AMCA Report: Frocester

An AMCA report.

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Just one week ago, MX2 top pilot Josh Waterman was left bitterly frustrated by an under-performing KTM engine lacking power and punch which lost him vital points during an IMBA European Championship round in Italy. But then just seven days later and proving how quickly fortunes can change in motocross, at Frocester for the penultimate round of the AMCA British Motocross Championship that frustration was to turn to total smiles and elation!

Those niggling mechanical gremlins, caused by an electrical fault had finally been identified and rectified thus allowing Josh to not only scorch to a hat-trick of moto wins but also keep himself in contention to retain his AMCA MX2 title when the series concludes at Norley this weekend. Topping the Frocester podium, Josh reduced leader Ray Rowson’s advantage down to 43 points. Rowson though the MX2 man very much inform  was also on that box along with Luke Dean, the rider that currently sits 3rd in the series powered by Datatag and supported by Dunlop.

In MX1, defending Champion Luke Burton calmly collected another calculated overall win and now requires just a further 49 points to retain his title. During Sunday’s action, Ryan Crowder claimed his third successive MX1 podium spot with 2nd overall whilst Gary Gibson took 3rd. When the AMCA series wraps up this weekend at Norley, the rider with what appears to be the least work to do and thus get over the line is 2T leader Brad Turner.

Following another overall win on Sunday, Turner requires just 8 points to secure his first AMCA title. Bagging his first ever podium, a simply delighted Jack Waterman took 2nd in the 2T at Frocester with James Lane the 2016 series runner-up recording his best finish so far this campaign with 3rd. The last class for Vets which as proved to be a season long three-way domination looks like going in favour of James Russell. The former AMCA Open class Champion took victory on Sunday and now needs another 91 points to earn the 2017 Vets crown.

Despite rain falling pretty much throughout the entire proceedings thus making corner entry particularly slippery and visibility for riders difficult, the big old Frocester circuit was in great shape and survived the weather to dish up some very exciting racing thanks to the sterling efforts of the Dursley MXC.

Currently in a rich vein of form, Ryan Crowder grabbed the opening MX1 holeshot of the day before Luke Burton moved through just as the pack completed lap one. From here onwards it was the MX1 Championship leader controlling all the way although he did have a nervous moment in the closing stages, making contact with a backmarker in a corner which stalled his FUS Husqvarna’s engine. Taking 2nd in this one and just over 3 seconds in arrears was Shane Carless who had been on a massive charge. Gating 7th, the Marsh MX Honda rider was really on it as Crowder took 3rd from fast 2T ace Adam Harris and a great race long tussle for 5th featuring Gary Gibson, Paul Neale, Luke Meredith and Ashley Thomas.

MX1 moto two and Crowder again took the holeshot to thus lead the opening lap. This time around it was to be Gibson claiming the eventual win as Burton moved up to get home in 2nd ahead of fast starting Crowder, Jack Timms, Thomas, Harris and Matt Ridgway enjoying one of his best rounds of the campaign. In this second clash the man in trouble was Carless who after being involved in a turn one collision lost his handlebar grip! Quickly repairing the damage, Shane was right down in 22nd before recovering back to finish 13th.

Desparate to make amends and claw back vital points, Carless then led the final MX1 clash all the way to the finish after passing holeshot king Crowder. With Burton, struggling for clear vision in the rain and suffering a fall early on which dropped him down to 6th, the Champion elect decided to settle for a safe 2nd. Finishing their respective performances off in style, the smooth Crowder was again to take 3rd ahead of Harris, Gibson and Ridgway, all right in the mix and fighting hard. In this moto, Brandon Benjamin enjoyed his own best ride of the day, getting it home in 7th.

Lewis King on the TMC Kawasaki was fastest away in the opening MX2 clash before being passed by Josh Waterman. In a frantic few early laps, Bradley Tranter, Jansen Day and Clinton Barrs were also right on it as series leader Ray Rowson in 8th and Luke Dean 9th had plenty of work to do. As Waterman raced off to bag the win, Rowson stormed back up the leaderboard to snatch 2nd, followed through by Dean who also had a great ride in 3rd. Early leader King eventually had to settle for 4th with Tranter, Day and Barrs the next best.

Dean made a flying start in moto two, putting in a big few early laps before being reeled in by Waterman. After a super battle, Waterman then moved to the front before racing off to another impressive win. Day and Barrs were to be the next best as Rowson got home in 5th. This was certainly to be a very painful moto for the series leader Rowson after earlier suffering a nasty cut to his head when a flying stone pierced his goggles. Also not enjoying such good fortune this time around, King crashed on lap one when entering a fast downhill corner. Restarting last he got home in 12th.

Dean and Tranter were very fast off the mark in the final MX2 clash before they both fell on the completion of lap one. Quickly remounting, the rider in trouble was Tranter, suffering a painful injury to his rear end and also losing all the fluid from his back brake system! Upfront the rejuvenated Waterman was simply flying, blasting to another win chased home by Rowson, Day, Barrs, Luke Mellows and James Wainwright. After their earlier tumble, Dean recovered for 7th and Tranter was 13th whilst King was forced out early on with mechanical gremlins. Afterwards a relieved Waterman said, “For the last couple of months we been having problems which we thought was down to the engine but found it was an electrical issue which we rectified just yesterday at 4pm. What a difference I had in speed and power today and felt like I was riding a different bike. The track was really good so well done to Lawson Benjamin and the Dursley MXC crew”.

Enjoying the Frocester terrain, Jack Waterman led the charge in 2T moto one for three laps before being overhauled by Championship pace-setter Brad Turner. Getting home in 3rd was Shaun Buchan passing Jason Kenderick late on. Having campaigned on a KTM all season, Kenderick was out on a TM at Frocester and looked very comfortable aboard his new mount whilst James Lane, Bradley Doyle, Jordan Saunders and Rory Jones all started strongly. Having finished her BWMA Ladies campaign, Nadiya Jones was competing for the first time in the AMCA 2T series and got home in 30th place in moto one.

What a classic 2T moto two proved to be as again Waterman grabbed the holeshot before Buchan, Lane, Doyle and finally Waterman for the second time all took turns to lead. Taking the win it was Waterman from Lane enjoying easily his best performance of the season, Kendrick, Doyle and Saunders. Not having it all his own way, Turner was 17th before falling and dropping right back to 31st. Showing his class though the AMS/IDS KTM ace eventually recovered for 9th. The final 2T clash also produced more super action as Buchan led a four way battle at the front which featured Saunders, Turner and Alec Everitt. Eventually though that man Turner took the all-important win to just about tie up a much deserved title. On the podium though the happiest man was certainly Jack Waterman, “ Today went well and I made good starts which helped. The track was superb and I am so pleased as that was my first ever podium.”

In a great Vets moto one battle, Simon Lane, James Russell and finally winner Terry House all took turns to lead the way. Such was the pace of the top three that they forged a massive advantage for themselves at the front. The main focus then turned to a terrific scrap for 4th in which Richard Chinn got the verdict just ahead of Gary Jones who had gated right down in 14th and Brian Staples.

Vets Champion elect Russell then led moto two all the way as House held 2nd, then fell dropping back to 3rd before again recovering to reclaim the runners-up position. Next best was Lane, Jones, Chinn, Darren Bennett and Staples. The best race of the day though was certainly to be moto three! In that clash both Russell and Lane took turns to lead but the man providing the entertainment was House. Holding 2nd the KTM rider fell and dropped back to what appeared to be a distant 3rd! Undeterred he not only remounted but passed Lane for 2nd before then remarkably reeling in and passing a very surprised leader Russell on the final lap. In an incredible finish, Russell then responded to regain his leadership on the very last corner, getting the verdict by just a tyre’s width, simply superb!

Sunday’s event also featured round two of the AMCA 85cc/150cc Youth Championship, the youngsters on duty displaying plenty of skill and courage to master the slippery conditions. Taking moto one it was Alfie Rickwood all the way ahead of Harrison McCann and Max Lewis. In the second encounter, Rickwood looked set to record another big win until his engine stalled on several occasions. Losing valuable ground and places, the distraught youngster was eventually forced to retire from the moto.

So bagging the win this time around it was McCann from Lewis, Jack Loveridge and Ben Dutton. In the last clash, Rickwood had his bike back on song to thus record another win with McCann, Joshua Fletcher-Williams and Lewis the next best. That stoppage for Rickwood in moto two though also meant that he would not feature on the podium with the trophies going to McCann, Lewis and Loveridge.

Words: Mike Wood | Lead Image: AMCA

British MX Nationals

Thank you. It’s been a hell of a ride.

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Since buying back MX Vice in November 2019, it has been challenging. One of those crystal balls would have been handy for navigating some problematic situations. Who would have thought COVID-19 would be a thing?

Those who follow MX Vice know we started from nothing but an idea. A fan who loved the sport created a Facebook page, website, and social media presence that would become disruptive. It has made numerous talented media people who were allowed to run with it for over thirteen years. Being in the UK/Europe has always been difficult; I’ve always believed that if we were a US media company, we would have been embraced and appreciated for our work ethic and the content we produce. We always cast one eye over the US in Europe, and you can’t blame the top European riders for doing the same.

MX Vice has always tried to give people a voice, especially the riders who are not in the limelight and the teams that put so much into the sport. We love people’s passion and sacrifice to improve and challenge themselves. That, for me, was the natural pull, not the money but the passion and sacrifice. We all know we would not be in motocross if it were about the money. I always considered MX Vice the media version of Steve Dixon’s team in MXGP (which I have a huge amount of respect for), where we have always tried to challenge without the factory budgets.

We knew it would be tough this year with so many businesses and brands cutting marketing budgets and reducing costs; this was never going to be good for us. We have just had two incredible months of stats, with January and February bringing in over 1 million people to the website, which is quite bittersweet. As much as the funds are low, so is my energy and health. COVID impacted me more than I could ever envisaged. My health has deteriorated ever since I caught COVID; my immune system is not in a great place, and when I try and work to the standard I set myself, my body breaks on me, and it takes me days to recover. Ed Stratmann has been a revelation since he took the editorial reigns and has pushed MX Vice to new heights, which is incredible given the lack of resources he has had to work with and support from myself. I have been missing from the podcast show to reduce my time, as I am now self-employed and working for two companies to pay the bills.

Every journey ends, and that’s not what we want. Over the past 13 years, we have given it everything, leaving no stone unturned. We’re proud of how we have disrupted, challenged decisions, held organisations accountable, and illuminated incredible stories.

We will have an auction for signed shirts donated by riders, podcast equipment, and memorabilia to pay off the invoices of some contributors. If, however, you want to see MX Vice continue, you can donate here: https://ko-fi.com/mxvice or purchase a shirt or memorabilia. If we meet our target of £25,000, which is currently outstanding to run this year, then Ed and I will continue. However, we fully expect this won’t happen due to the large sum required.

It’s hard out there at the moment. Take care of your health and family, and never lose your passion for the most fantastic sport in the world.

Burf.

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British MX Nationals

All six rounds are to be contested in the UK, with the Netherlands on hold until 2025

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The team behind the NPC have been viewing multiple sites in the UK that will host the 2024 Championship. Much time has been spent analysing sites for the best combination of track layout, public parking, location, access and activation areas. We are excited to show you what we have been working on.

We have received much feedback from people worried about the rising costs in 2024 and how it will affect them and their racing. Living expenses and uncertainty in the motocross industry have increased and further caused caution. We don’t want to put extra pressure on motocross families; we’re trying to do the opposite. With this in mind, and after much deliberation, we will delay our European involvement until 2025 when inflation, living costs and, more importantly, our riders are excited rather than concerned about European expenses.

Although we are disappointed to put this on hold for twelve months after having two outstanding tracks in the Netherlands, it does mean we will double down on our commitment to bring you the best and most challenging tracks in the UK that you can only ride in the NPC. It is a fascinating time for British Motocross, with some absolute gems being found that will help challenge UK motocross riders to race tracks similar in style and toughness to those at a GP race.

Although a wheel has yet to turn in this Championship, we have shown we are willing to listen and change accordingly to ensure we do what is suitable for British motocross. The Championship was launched to help push and elevate British motocross, and since September, when we announced our decision to run, every other organisation and series has stepped up. We are committed to ensuring the foundations are there for the next British World Champion since Jamie Dobb in 2001.

Whether you are a rider at the front looking to gain valuable race craft to take into EMX races next year or looking to improve by riding the best and most challenging tracks in the UK, this series is for you. We’ll also provide a spotlight for you to shine in front of brands, teams and companies around the World.

Our calendar of tracks is starting to take shape, with Oakhanger and Oxford Moto Parc being two of the six already named. We are committed to ensuring every track offers excellent value for our riders and the NPC so we can keep registration and race fees at a minimum whilst providing nearly £100,000 in prize money. The tracks we choose will also offer some of the best racing for spectators at our events and live on the TV. We have tweaked the times and format of the event to provide the optimum environment for great action-packed racing. Forty riders in MX1 and MX2 classes will give everything to provide an exhilarating 20-minute performance.

In year two, we aim to bring a mainstream TV partner to televise the Championship alongside the live stream to increase the exposure to sponsors entering our series further.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and can’t wait to share more information in the new year.

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British MX Nationals

Has British Motocross turned a corner?

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British Motocross is a subject I’m very passionate about. It’s the sole reason MX Vice was created back in 2011. At that time there were a few magazines out there, but not many websites. One defining moment for me was seeing Gordon Crockard sit exhausted in a small setup in Denver at the 2010 Motocross of Nations. Ireland had done their usual B final shenanigans, where Crockard finished second to Martin Davalos, Martin Barr third and Stuart Edmonds fifth in a very hot Denver. It took a colossal effort by them, but most notably by Crockard, who was a little older than the young guns of Barr and Edmonds on the team. Watching from afar I could see that Gordon didn’t leave anything on the track on Sunday September 26th, he was spent.


Words: James Burfield | Lead Image: Supplied


I’d never spoken to Gordon before but I felt I needed to go over and speak to him because the amount of respect I had for him that weekend and the Irish team was on another level. The MXDN has a way of bringing out the passion from the fans just as much as the riders and I was totally wrapped up in it as a fan. The best I could offer was ‘that was an amazing effort’ that probably didn’t mean much at the time (Crockard finished 15th overall in MX Open). He smiled, was super polite and talked to me for five minutes before getting changed.

The next day we were in a shopping mall in Denver, I just bought a coffee for myself, my wife and godson, and lo and behold Gordon was sitting down in the mall. He looked up and said “hey how are you?” So I sat down with Gordon, my godson and we spoke about the previous day, what it took for him to achieve what he did that weekend in the heat and altitude of Denver.

When I got back the next few weeks I scoured the internet and magazines and the little that was covered I felt didn’t give the team and Gordon justice. I had been going to the MXDN since 2006 and tried to get to as many GPs as possible from 2006 to 2010, and after buying a bike back in 2005, my bug was firmly back.

Although I have regressed about why I’m passionate about British Motocross I feel like I need to add some context to how I got there. I approached DBR back in 2010 about MX Vice being a possible motocross website to Sean Lawless, as DBR then didn’t do much online. As you would have figured I was turned down, for good reason. I was just a fan, although I had masses of digital knowledge, it didn’t mean anything to the motocross world back then. Whenever I picked up my monthly copies of MotoMag and DBR the stories were tailored around the stars of the sport. I wanted to hear about the journeymen, the riders that work in the week and the epic stories about making it to the line against the best in Britain.

At that time in the UK, Ashley Wilde, Jake Millward, Alan Keet, Adam Sterry, Luke Norris, Lewis Tombs, Josh Waterman, Ross Rutherford, Matthew Moffat, Ross Hill, Rob Davidson, Jordan Divall and Ross Keyworth were among some of the riders that wouldn’t get any coverage. No one was telling their stories or interviewing them. That’s when I knew MX Vice was needed.

For those that have been on this journey with MX Vice you will know the ins and outs of my love affair with British Motocross. So much has happened in those twelve years. I have seen two ACU chairmen come and go, helped form a championship called the MX Nationals, ran two race teams and spent hundreds of thousands on this sport I love. What I have realised in those twelve years is you have to have tough skin, because if you are going to have an opinion that is not shared by people who have a financial interest, then they will go to whatever level they need to go to to protect that interest. So when I started to ask questions that everyone wanted to know the answers to, you were tarnished with being disruptive and toxic.

The UK is a small community of the same people and if you fuck around in their playground you find out, as pressure is applied to business not to work with you. I have been on this constant journey with British motocross, going round in circles.

The opportunity to go to MXGP in 2015 was a breath of fresh air for MX Vice and myself. We felt welcomed and they appreciated the impact we made online and through our social channels, even when our opinion differed we didn’t get alienated, or advertising pulled from us due to pressure.

Weirdly they welcomed the challenge to be better, in fact they were open to hearing if we saw any opportunities to help them improve. This freaked us out for a while and part of us thought, “what’s the catch?” Going to MXGP felt like we moved from primary school to university and skipped secondary with the way people accepted and worked with us. That credit goes down to David Luongo who came in with new ideas and Samanta Gelli who understood our potential from day one.

When you look back to 2008 to 2014 and see the amount of GP riders that were regulars in the British Championship, maybe we were spoiled? Maybe it skewed our vision, but it just wasn’t just us, GP riders and fans were interested in the British scene. What has happened since that time is that the Dutch, German, French, Italian and Spanish championships have evolved, their federations have invested and been very successful with their programs.

Again this has not helped with the perception when looking at British Motocross. Since 2014 I feel there has been glimpses of effort, but in comparison we have become complacent. When you are complacent then other people will see an opportunity, just like MX Vice did with MotoMag and DBR in 2011. Those two juggernauts at the time possibly looked and laughed at the thought of someone like MX Vice passing them.

I want those days back when you were excited to see riders like Arnaud Tonus, Zach Osborne and Christophe Pourcel in MX2 and Matiss Karro, Kevin Strijbos, Shaun Simpson, Stephen Sword, Marc de Reuver in MX1 and you would travel the length of the UK on a Sunday not to miss a round.

Yes we have had COVID, Brexit and now we are in a recession, it’s a difficult time for everyone. The British championship is doing its best given the resources they have along with the MX Nationals. Tracks are charging in the region of £15,000 – £20,000, and gone are the days of volunteer marshalls. The cost to run a national event is around £30,000 to £40,000 per round. Add in to this the industry is spending less on events and marketing to promote their products, services and business, and you can recognise the struggle.

Both championships are run under the ACU, who are the leading federation in the UK, and that won’t possibly change in our lifetime. So as much as people want to moan about what they are not doing, then remember they are not going anywhere either. As the federation for both championships, they are always going to be the target for those people who feel disenfranchised with how the sport is going and it doesn’t help when people perceive other countries are progressing and new organisations like Nora92 are investing back into the sport with an incredible youth program and reduced licence and riding fees.

I believe that the ACU have recognised that things need to change and have understood that the licence fee subscribers are the life force behind their business. The appointment of Tim Lightfoot as chair of the ACU has been a positive one, someone who seems to truly understand that a united British motocross is beneficial to the ACU.

There are some great people within UK motocross who all believe that they know what it needs and when they are not listened to they then decide to adopt the mantra of I’ll just go and do it myself. Tim Lightfoot has the biggest job in motocross right now, and everything to play for.

With the right foresight and understanding what is required from key stakeholders that are jaded he could unite the British motocross scene, skyrocket ACU licences and drive the industry forward. A lot of pressure for one person, but if he can unite the rest of the ACU behind him, then things will change. So a glimmer of hope has happened for the ACU and the national championship, but there will be many who would have heard this all before.

But the hook that got me engaged with British motocross once more was when I heard of the possibility of a new Championship being started for 2024, but with two rounds being run in Europe. As an outsider looking in I would one hundred percent be that guy to say, “Jesus yet another championship” – just what the UK needs. That would have been the general sentiment towards someone starting another championship in the UK. So I needed to know more to understand if this would be a success or not.

Clinton Putnam is the guy who is looking to challenge British motocross to be better, to set a new bar in the hope it will shake it up and take it forward. Clinton was behind the very successful GT Cup and came onboard the MX National series supporting with tracks, infrastructure and vehicles. The same guy who has been behind the explosion of quality new motocross tracks in the UK over the past two years, something that the UK is in dire need of. I spoke to Clinton initially to understand more about the series and what his approach to media would be and see if I could help in any way. His vision is to offer a championship that feels like a GP when you arrive, an emphasis on the pros, along with world class tracks for them to ride on.

A few months ago this was made even more impressive by the fact that Clinton would be running with or without support from the industry, luckily for Clinton there are people, businesses and brands that also share and welcome that vision.

For the past eighteen months I have stayed out of the UK scene thanks to having COVID for five months, which kicked my ass, and then focussing on MXGP to fulfil our contracts. With Arenacross offering £140,000, NPC £98,700, MX Nationals and the British Championship there is finally some good money for pros to earn in 2024 when the economy is struggling! So is this the wind of change that we needed?

Since the new Nora Pro Championship (NPC) was announced it seems to have lifted the industry, federations have upped their game, other championships have got a second wind and the purse strings are a little looser from brands and manufacturers. Who knows where British motocross will be by the end of 2024?

We could be looking back five years from now saying where we would be without Clinton Putnam starting the NPC, and it being a driving force for not only the UK and six rounds in the UK and six rounds in Europe.

One thing is for sure, British motocross is a lot like the political landscape. There is a lot of talk about requiring people to work together, but it will always be difficult when egos and money get in the way of progress. Hawkstone International and VMXDN Foxhills have shown that if the product is what people want then they will support it, the challenge is to offer that level six times a year, not just the once.

Strap in because we have a lot to look forward to over the next thirty six months.

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