Downhill Mountain Bike Champion Danny Hart to compete at the Hawk International!

Danny Hart is a World Downhill Mountain Bike Champion and enjoys anything on two-wheels. He rides for the Giant Factory race team, but in his spare time he practices and races his RM-Z250. Yet he’s never raced in anything as big as the Hawkstone International. That, however, is about to change.

Away from his successful downhill mountain bike career, Danny Hart is no stranger to racing motocross, after he started riding at five years old. He regularly gets competitive on his RM-Z250, but never before at a meeting as big or prestigious at the Hawkstone International. But as he continues to prepare himself for the 2013 mountain biking season, one of the, if not the, biggest motocross meetings on the calendar is firmly set as part of his plans.

“I ride motocross all winter,” Danny explains. “It’s all good preparation and helps me get ready for the mountain biking season. But I never really have an aim at the end of it. I just sort of stop. So I thought that if I worked really hard and got myself sharp and fit, it would be good to compete at the International.

“It’s quite early in the year, so it gives me plenty of time afterwards to get back on my mountain bike regularly before the first round of the season. But I really wanted to ride at the Hawkstone International anyway, as it’s such a big race on the calendar here in the UK, and I remember watching my dad racing there when I was younger, and always thought it would be a good thing to do one day. Then that would see me start to wind down on the motocross front as the season gets underway.”

He’s under no illusions as to how competitive the field will be, and knows the event attracts some of the biggest names in the sport. A lot of preparation has been undertaken to be ready for the race, and while he’s not being overly ambitious with his targets, he’s certainly not there to make up the numbers.

“My aim is to qualify for the main MX2 race. This race attracts some of the best riders in the world, and I want to race against them. If I don’t manage to qualify for the main race, then I’d still get to ride and compete in the support race, but I don’t want to do that. I’ve spent a lot of time on the bike recently and my speed has been good, so I’m going there to make the main MX2 race.

“I’ve been entering as many races as I can over the winter, although with the weather being so bad a lot of them were cancelled, so I perhaps haven’t done as many as I’d have liked. But I’ve gone pretty well in them, with a few wins in the 250 classes.”

As well as being a keen motocrosser, riding his RM-Z250 is also good training for when the downhill mountain biking season kicks off.

“Because of my injury during the season last year I was more unfit than I had been in the past, so I had to start getting fit from the off. I spent a lot of time just riding my bike quite a lot at first. But then a couple of months ago I started to really train seriously for the season and started riding the RM-Z two to three days a week. I used FatCat a lot, but also spent a bit of time at Doncaster Moto Parc near Finningley. That has got me much fitter and helped me lose a bit of weight, and I’m feeling much better for it. So we should be in good shape for Hawkstone, and in the best shape possible for the mountain biking season.

“I’ll also have a 2013 RM-Z250 for the races, too, which I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on. The 2012 model is great, but I’m looking forward to the new one with the new, second generation Showa SFF front forks, the new gearbox and new engine internals too. Should make me even more competitive!”

The Hawkstone International takes place on Sunday 10 February, 2013. The Heads and All Threads Suzuki team of Graeme Irwin, Luke Burton and Jordan McClelland will also be competing as they prepare for the 2013 British Motocross Championship and the Red Bull Pro Nationals series.

Hawkstone are actively looking for more sponsors of the 2013 event to add to their current loyal supporters. Sponsorship prices start from as little as £250 – for more details or the sponsorship package please contact me on [email protected] or [email protected].

It is once again scheduled to appear on MotorsTV which includes a preview programme. Also it will be extensively covered by the specialist motorcycle press before and after the event which gives a potential sponsor a prime chance to promote their brand.

For entry details please contact Gary Ford on [email protected] or call 07966 367456 – entry forms are available now.

Trade stand enquiries can be made with [email protected] or by calling 01873 840640.

Press enquiries to [email protected] – these need to be with me no later than the 25th January.

Tickets are only available to buy on the gate on the day, £25 each which includes a free race programme. Under 14’s are free.

Camping will be £20 per pitch – motorhome/tent/caravan.

Parking on site is also free.

For more information see –

http://www.hawkstonemx.co.uk/LatestInternationalNews.aspx 

The 2012 Hawkstone International Motocross is supported by 

Hawk Plant Hire – www.hawk-group.co.uk 

Doodson Motorsport – www.doodsonbg.com

RJS Builders – www.rjsbuildersltd.co.uk 

Salop Leisure – www.salopleisure.co.uk 

ISO2 – www.iso2nutrition.co.uk 

Cradley Kawasaki – www.cradleykawasaki.co.uk 

Media Partners

TMX & DBR

MX VICE

For Directions to Hawkstone Motocross circuit click here: –

http://www.hawkstonemx.co.uk/Travel.aspx 

Riders as of 07.01.13