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British Championship

Graeme Irwin retires

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British Motocross Champion and Hitachi ASA KTM Team rider steps down from the world of motocross.

The 2017 British Motocross Champion, Graeme Irwin, is to retire from World and British Motocross after injuries have prevented the KTM rider from continuing to competing on the world stage. The 27-year-old Carrickfergus rider hit international headlines after claiming the British MX1 title in 2017. Riding for KTM in 2018 for Roger Magee’s Hitachi ASA KTM Team on the KTM 450 SX-F, Irwin’s season was marked by a series of severe injuries, including burns to his back at Round Four of the Maxxis British Motocross Championship at Blaxhall in May, and a split upper lip in the 16th round of MXGP at the Grand Prix of Switzerland in August. With typical determination and a will to win that he’s showed throughout his career, Irwin continued to ride doggedly in both championships. However, Irwin broke his scaphoid in the final round of the MXGP season at the Italian GP in Imola, and it has been this injury that has caused his premature retirement. After five further surgeries to rectify the damage the married father of two subsequently made the decision to leave the sport and end his career at the highest level of motocross.

Graeme Irwin: “It is a sad day for me and one that I never thought I would have to make in these circumstances, but I don’t want to just race on making up the numbers. Right up until this week I have been trying to get ready for the new season, but after talking to the doctors and having another ride on the bike I have had to come to the decision to step away from motocross. The break was quite a complicated one. It was a bad scaphoid break, with all the tendons being wrecked and I also dislocated my wrist pretty badly. Since the accident I have since had five surgeries on it, so it hasn’t been much fun. Don’t get me wrong, I could still ride a motocross bike, but not to the level that would allow me to win another British title and race against the best in the world.”

Summarising on his career Irwin continued: “I have won everything there was to win on the domestic scene. I won the British Youth Championship, Ulster and Irish titles, British Masters Championship, won the MX Nationals two years in a row, as well as the British Maxxis Championship so I’m happy with what I’ve achieved. The training and the riding was everything for me. I loved riding the bike and it’s not that I have lost interest in the game. It’s not like that whatsoever. I will always ride a motocross bike for fun. The sport has been so good to me and I will miss it so much. And I owe so much of my success to Roger Magee. I started my career with him and I have now ended it with him. I couldn’t have asked for a better team boss and friend. I sincerely wish him and the team all the success in the future.”

Team Principal Roger Magee said, “When Graeme started with my Team in 2009, he showed a lot of promise from the start, winning his first MX2 British Championship race at Little Silver in Devon. Over the years we have had many memorable moments both on and off the track which we will cherish in the years to come. It is a massive blow to Graeme and the Team, but we must now both accept the reality and deal with the situation. From the bottom of our hearts we wish Graeme all the very best in the future in whatever career path he chooses. I know he will give it 100 per cent – as he always has done in the past.”

Commenting upon the decision, Matt Walker KTM UK, “Obviously this has been a very difficult decision for Graeme to make. He is such a talented rider and he has always been great to watch. We hoped he’d end his career with KTM, but in ten years’ time, not now. It’s a big blow for the Hitachi ASA KTM Team, but I know that Graeme will by shouting on Conrad Mewse and Bas Vaessen in their full-on assault in the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship and the ACU British Motocross Championship. We wish Graeme well as he continues his recovery and hope he stays in the sport as he is a great asset to the world of motocross.”

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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