In 2023, MX Vice is running a regular SMX Review show, where we talk all things AMA, frequently with a star guest or pundit. This time Ben & Brad are joined by Honda HRC USA Team Manager Lars Lindstrom, talking about the red team’s amazing 2023 season, his time as Chad Reed’s mechanic, and his riders’ plans for the Motocross of Nations!

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Images: HRC Honda

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Massive thanks to Lars for joining us and we wish you and your team all the best for the rest of the year!

This podcast was recorded prior to the Washougal National, so apologies for the delay and for the few sound issues.  None of these were caused by Lars or his systems. Enjoy the podcast!





Last weekend the new Monster Mountain facility staged its first event, round two of the Michelin MX Nationals powered by Milwaukee, and what an action-packed weekend it was! With almost 300 hundred riders keen to get on the new track and a tremendous crowd for the MX Nationals, both enjoyed the two days of fast and hot motocross action.

Words: Dick Law for Michelin MX Nationals | Featured Image: Michelin MX Nationals

If you haven’t seen the images and videos on social media, Monster Mountain is a USA- styled track set on top of a Welsh mountain. With months and months of hard, back-breaking work that involved moving hundreds of tons of earth with machines the size of a small house, the Monster Mountain track was born, and the scale of the project was mind-blowing. Once you have climbed up the mountain’s side to the peak, you enter a landscape that could be easily mistaken for Pala or even the moon.

The Leatt Pro MX1s were mainly about three riders, the Crendon Fastrack Honda pairing of Conrad Mewse and Josh Gilbert and Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha rider Harri Kullas. The winner would come from one of these riders, who have dominated the home racing scene all year.

Kullas got the holeshot at the start of the first combined MX1 and MX2 pro race but was quickly passed a quarter of the way around the opening lap by Mewse and then his teammate Gilbert, who had gated third, slipped by Kullas before the end of the lap. While this happened, John Adamson (ASA United GasGas) got cross threaded in one of the deep ruts and dropped from fourth to tenth.

Adamson’s teammate Ivo Monticelli, who was making a comeback from an injury he suffered at round one of the Revo series, took full advantage of his teammate Adamson’s problems and took over his fourth place as Jason Meara (JM 10 Moto-cycle Racing Honda), Tom Grimshaw (Chambers Racing), Charlie Putnam (SC Sporthomes Husqvarna), Jamie Carpenter (Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha), and Dan Thornhill (Chambers Racing) all moved up a place at Adamson’s expense.

The leading four riders of Mewse, Gilbert, Kullas, and Monticelli stayed in the same running order to the end of the race as Meara and Grimshaw fought over fifth place. The two riders changed position many times till, on lap eight, Meara suffered a mechanical failure, leaving Grimshaw to make fifth all his own.

Adamson was on a charge after his crash and fought back to sixth at the end of the race, while Putnam came off his machine, relegating himself back to thirtieth place.

The immense new track, with its long start straights and big jumps, and even an adverse camber turn, was always going to disadvantage the smaller Apico MX2 machines over the power of the Leatt MX1 machines, with Glen McCormick (Chambers Racing) being the first of the MX2s around turn one, followed by Jamie Wainwright (WPH/SBE/Redline KTM) and Carlton Husband (Phoenix EvenStrokes Kawasaki) as race favourite Charlie Cole (Blades Bikes Kawasaki) suffering a mechanical problem that saw him at the back of the pack with a lot of work to do.

Wainwright had passed McCormick to lead the MX2s by the end of the first lap as Husband slipped back three places. But, as the race continued, Husband upped his pace and repassed six other riders on his way to tenth in the race, but first MX2 home.

McCormick put on a last-lap charge and snatched a place from the hands of Wainwright as the pair finished eleventh and thirteenth on the track but second and third in the MX2s, as for the unlucky Cole. He regrouped and fought his way back from thirtieth to finish fifteenth in the race but fourth MX2 and the last person on the lead lap.

Kullas once again got the holeshot at the start of race two, and once again, Gilbert found a way past him by the end of the lap. Behind them, it was Grimshaw, Meara, Monticelli, Mewse and Carpenter.

Grimshaw took his time in the opening laps and slipped back to sixth. Mewse slid past Monticelli on the second lap to take over third place, with Meara relegated to fifth.

While Grimshaw and Carpenter fought over sixth place, the running order of Gilbert from Kullas, Mewse, Monticelli, and Meara stayed the same till the very last lap when Mewse used the backmarkers to snatch second place from Kullas, and with it second overall for the meeting. (MX Vice was witness to the incident that cost Kullas second place, where two MX2 riders fell in a rut that Harri had already committed to, leaving the Yamaha man to haul his bike out of the massively deep inside rut as Conrad tiptoed around the outside of them, probably laughing his head off!).

On the Apico MX2 side of race two, Cole had gated tenth but had Wainwright in his wheel tracks and McCormick two places further back as they battled for the MX2 lead amongst the bigger MX1 machines.

After changing the lead with Wainwright several times, Cole established himself eighth on the track but first of the MX2s. Wainwright finished in tenth place for the second MX2, with McCormick third. Unfortunately, Husband didn’t get the start he wanted and didn’t seem to get going as he finished sixth MX2, behind Joe Brooks and Charlie Heyman (Tru7 Honda).           

With three race wins and a second place, Ben Edwards won the RFX expert MX1s from race one winner and wildcard rider Josh Waterman. Jayden Ashwell (AJP Geartec Husqvarna) was third, with Jay McCrum missing a podium position.

Ashley Greedy (Darjen Contractors Gas Gas) won his first three races in the RFX MX2s, but while in the lead of his fourth and final race of the weekend, he was passed by Jimmy Margetson (AJP Geartec Husqvarna) on his way to second overall, with Mathew Bayliss (Darjen Contractors Gas Gas).

Wildcard rider Scott Elderfield won three out of his four races on his way to the Motoverde amateur MX1 overall, with race four winner Sean Wainwright (Fasteddy Racing Honda) second. Josh Greedy (Darjen Contractors Kawasaki) tied in third with Luke Mellows (Forty-Four Honda).

Wildcard riders took three out of the top four places in the Motoverde amateur MX2 class as Ben Clarke, with two wins and two third places, took the overall from race two winner Raife Broadley (723 Race Bikes Gas Gas) while the winner of the last race Wal Beaney was third, just five points behind the winner.

Tallon Aspden (LA Groundwork KTM), with three wins and a second place, won the Worx clubman MX1s from Darren Manning-Coe, who was second in all four of his races as Daniel Chapman, the winner of the last race of the weekend was third as Drew Lane just missed out on the podium by two points.

Sam Ongley (Fantic) won all four Spiral GFX clubman MX2 races from Matt Tolly and Charlie West.

In the youth Fly Futures MXY2s, Billy Askew (GTCi Revo Kawasaki) won all four races and remains unbeaten this year. Behind him, Domonic Newbury (426 Motorsport KTM) and Mackenzie Marshall (DK Offroad KTM) were separated by just three points as they finished the weekend in second and third overall.

Reece Jones (SJP Moto Husqvarna) was third in his first race of the weekend, but from then on won the other three for first overall in the Fly MXY125s. Jake Walker (Mr T Racing KTM), who didn’t finish out of the top four all weekend, was second, with a race-three low score pushing Tyla Hooley (Fantic) down to third.

Josh Vail (SJP Moto Husqvarna), with two race wins, a second and a third place, took the overall win in the Syntol Big Wheel 85s with Jamie Keith (MBR X&P KTM), who didn’t finish out of the top three all weekend, second and Charlie Richmond third.

With a couple of wins and two-second places, Joel Winstanley-Dawson (Techsource Racing KTM) won the Syntol small wheel 85s from race one winner Lucas Lee (Husqvarna) and Ollie Truman.

Top ten results

Leatt Pro MX1:

1 Josh Gilbert (Crendon Fastrack Honda) 22 + 25 = 47

2 Conrad Mewse (Crendon Fastrack Honda) 25 + 22 = 47

3 Harri Kullas (Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha) 20 + 20 = 40

4 Ivo Monticelli (ASA United Gas Gas) 18 + 18 = 36

5 Tom Grimshaw (Chambers Racing) 16 + 15 = 31

6 James Carpenter (Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha) 14 + 14 = 28

7 John Adamson (ASA United Gas Gas) 15 + 13 = 28

8 Dan Thornhill (Chambers Racing) 13 + 10 = 23

9 Callum Green (Tru7 Honda Academy Honda) 10 + 11 = 21

10 Stuart Edmonds (S Biggs Commercials Honda) 12 + 9 = 21

Apico Pro MX2:

1 Charlie Cole (Blades Bikes Kawasaki) 18 + 25 = 43

2 Jamie Wainwright (WPH/SBE/Redline KTM) 20 + 22 = 42

3 Glen McCormick (Chambers Racing) 22 + 20 = 42

4 Carlton Husband (Phoenix EvenStrokes Kawasaki) 25 + 15 = 40

5 Charlie Hayman (Tru7 Honda Academy Honda) 16 + 16 = 32

6 Joe Brooks (GRT Impact KTM) 13 + 18 = 31

7 Calum Mitchell (Lexa MX Husqvarna) 15 + 14 = 29

8 Bailey Johnston (Verde Shiloh KTM) 11 + 13 = 24

9 Ben Franklin (Chambers Husqvarna) 12 + 12 = 24

10 Lewis Hall (Fantic) 14 + 10 = 24

RFX Expert MX1:

1 Ben Edwards (KTM) 22 + 25 + 25 + 25 = 97

2 Josh Waterman (KTM) 25 + 22 + 22 + 20 = 89

3 Jayden Ashwell (AJP Geartec Husqvarna) 18 + 20 + 20 + 16 = 74

4 Jay McCrum (Honda) 15 + 15 + 15 + 18 = 63

5 Richard Bird (Allmoto Megabikes Yamaha) 16 + 16 + 16 + 14 = 62

6 Corrie Southwood (Langmead Kawasaki) 5 + 14 + 12 = 22 = 53

7 Ryan Thomson (Drysdale MC Gas Gas) 14 + 13 + 13 + 7 = 47

8 Josh Canton (Concept CCF KTM) 13 + 9 + 11 + 13 = 46

9 Josh Peters (Jim Aim KTM) 20 + 0 + 18 + 0 = 38

10 Aaron Patstone (Gas Gas) 9 + 8 + 10 + 10 = 37

RFX Expert MX2:

1 Ashley Greedy (Darjen Contractors Gas Gas) 25 + 25 + 25 + 22 = 97

2 Jimmy Margetson (Husqvarna) 15 + 20 + 15 + 25 = 75

3 Mathew Bayliss (Darjen Contractors Gas Gas) 20 + 22 + 14 + 13 = 69

4 Uldis Freibergs (Lexa MX Husqvarna) 16 + 15 + 16 + 20 = 67

5 Kieran Banks (Yamaha) 18 + 13 + 18 + 18 = 67

6 Henry Siddiqui (Husqvarna) 13 + 14 + 20 + 16 = 63

7 Josh Colman (Holeshot MX KTM) 22 + 16 + 22 + 0 = 60

8 Aaron Ongley (723 Racebikes Gas Gas) 10 + 12 + 9 + 14 = 45

9 Niall Cregan (CCM Motorcycles Husqvarna) 5 + 9 + 11 + 15 = 40

10 Callum Murfitt (Southside MMX KTM) 7 + 11 + 10 + 12 = 40

Motoverde amateur MX1:

1 Scott Elderfield (Kawasaki) 25 + 25 + 25 + 22 = 97

2 Sean Wainwright (Fasteddy Racing Honda) 20 + 18 + 20 + 25 = 83

3 Josh Greedy (Darjen Contractors Kawasaki) 22 + 20 + 18 + 20 = 80

4 Luke Mellows (Forty Four Honda) 18 + 22 + 22 + 18 = 80

5 Jamie Dixon (P&S Yamaha) 14 + 16 + 12 + 16 = 58

6 Joshua McCorkell (McCorkell Racing Husqvarna) 16 + 13 + 11 + 14 = 54

7 Ryan Osborn (Evotech KTM) 11 + 14 + 15 + 13 = 53

8 Callum Gordon (MX Revive Gas Gas) 12 + 15 + 13 + 10 = 50

9 Brad Thornhill (LMC Plant KTM) 9 + 12 + 14 + 12 = 47

10 Jacob Bowden (VMX Motocross Club KTM) 10 + 11 + 10 + 15 = 46

Motoverde amateur MX2:

1 Ben Clark (Gas Gas) 25 + 20 + 25 + 20 = 90

2 Raife Broadley (723 Race Bikes Gas Gas) 18 + 25 + 22 + 22 = 87

3 Wal Beaney (KTM) 22 + 18 + 20 + 25 = 85

4 Jayden Murphy (KTM) 16 + 22 + 16 + 18 = 72

5 Shaun Springer (Gas Gas) 20 + 16 + 18 + 16 = 70

6 Charlie Palmer (Apex Gas Gas) 14 + 15 + 13 + 15 = 57

7 Dan Brough (Rutzz Yamaha) 12 + 12 + 7 + 14 = 45

8 Alex Buchanan (Mace Tech Tuning KTM) 11 + 14 + 12 + 8 = 45

9 Jonathan Rodrick-Evans (KTM) 7 + 7 + 14 + 12 = 40

10 Leon Ongley (Fantic) 15 + 8 + 6 + 11 = 40

Worx Sports Insurance Clubman MX1:

1 Tallon Aspden (LA Groundwork KTM) 25 + 25 + 25 + 20 = 95

2 Darren Manning-Coe (Fabrican KTM) 22 + 22 + 22 + 22 = 88

3 Daniel Chapman (KTM) 15 + 18 + 18 + 25 = 76

4 Drew Lane (Lanes Construction Gas Gas) 20 + 20 + 16 + 18 = 74

5 Kalem Hicks (British Army MX Team Husqvarna) 16 + 16 + 15 + 15 = 62

6 Billy Saunders (WMS Commercials Honda) 18 + 0 + 20 + 16 = 54

7 Ryan Davis (KTM) 10 + 12 + 14 + 12 = 48

8 Ashley Senior (Honda) 11 + 14 + 9 + 13 = 47

9 Josh Young (KTM) 14 + 10 + 11 + 11 = 46

10 Josh Bailey (Chris Bailey Landscaping KTM) 6 + 7 + 10 + 14 = 37

Spiral Clubman MX2:

1 Sam Ongley (Fantic) 25 + 25 + 25 + 25 = 100

2 Matt Tolley (426 Motorsport KTM) 20 + 22 + 22 + 16 = 80

3 Charlie West (Tim Feeney KTM) 11 + 16 + 16 + 22 = 65

4 Bradley Johnstone (Moto Connection Kawasaki) 16 + 15 + 20 + 9 = 60

5 Chris Corthorn (Kawasaki) 10 + 20 + 9 + 20 = 59

6 George Boyce (Design Scaffolding KTM) 12 + 13 + 13 + 18 = 56

7 Matthew Pocock (MGP Steel Erection KTM) 0 + 18 + 18 + 15 = 51

8 Richy Roberts (Rutzz Racing Yamaha) 9 + 6 + 15 + 14 = 44

9 Max Flint (Planet Moto KTM) 14 + 9 + 15 + 14 = 44

10 Jordan Ambler (City Wide KTM) 18 + 12 + 0 + 11 = 44

Fly Racing MXY125:

1 Billy Askew (GTCi Revo Kawasaki) 25 + 25 + 25 + 25 = 100

2 Domonic Newbury (426 Motorsport KTM) 20 + 15 + 20 + 20 = 75

3 Mckenzie Marshall (DK Offroad KTM) 22 + 10 + 22 + 18 = 72

4 George Hopkins (HJA Motorcycles Gas Gas) 18 + 14 + 16 + 14 = 62

5 Jak Taylor (Lexa MX Husqvarna) 9 + 20 + 10 + 22 = 61

6 Fin Wilson (Husqvarna) 16 + 16 + 14 + 15 = 61

7 Bayliss Utting (Trell Contractors Honda) 14 + 22 + 18 + 4 = 58

8 Liam Bennett (Apico GMR Husqvarna) 4 + 18 + 15 + 16 = 53

9 Kayde Rayns (Scott Motorsport Yamaha) 15 + 13 + 12 + 12 = 52

10 Kyron Carron (LC Construction KTM) 12 + 8 + 11 + 13 = 44

Fly Racing MXY125:

1 Reece Jones (SJP Moto KTM) 20 + 25 + 25 + 25 = 95

2 Jake Walker (Mr T Racing KTM) 18 + 20 + 22 + 22 = 82

3 Tyla Hooley (Fantic) 22 + 22 + 10 + 20 = 74

4 Freddie Gardiner (Matt Gardiner MX KTM) 25 + 11 + 12 + 18 = 66

5 Wesley McGavin (KTM) 13 + 18 + 18 + 16 = 65

6 Harrison Greenough (Simpson KTM) 14 + 16 + 16 + 12 = 58

7 Chester Hyde (Matt Pope MC Gas Gas) 15 + 15 + 13 + 13 = 56

8 Shane Jones (KTM) 16 + 14 + 14 + 10 = 54

9 Ollie Bubb (3 Flo Yamaha) 11 + 13 + 15 + 14 = 53

10 Jack Meara (Honda) 0 + 12 + 20 + 15 = 47

Syntol Big Wheel 85:

1 Josh Vail (SJP Moto KTM) 25 + 22 + 20 + 25 = 92

2 Jamie Keith (MBR X&P KTM) 20 + 25 + 22 + 22 = 89

3 Charlie Richmond (KTM) 22 + 20 + 25 + 20 = 87

4 Lewis Spratt (KTM) 16 + 18 + 15 + 16 = 65

5 Alfie Geddes-Green (Matt Pope MC Gas Gas) 18 + 8 + 18 + 18 = 62

6 Harry Lee (GRT Impact KTM) 14 + 16 + 13 + 15 = 58

7 Blake Ward-Clarke (GRT Impact KTM) 13 + 14 + 16 + 14 = 57

8 Reegan Rogers (Husqvarna) 8 + 13 + 10 + 13 = 44

9 Finlay Pickering (Mr T’s Racing KTM) 12 + 5 + 14 + 11 = 42

10 Maison Jones (Paul Green Tyres KTM) 9 + 11 + 9 + 12 = 41

Syntol Small Wheel 85:

1 Joel Winstanley-Dawson (Techsource Racing KTM) 22 + 22 + 25 + 25 = 94

2 Lucas Lee (Husqvarna) 25 + 15 + 22 + 22 = 84

3 Ollie Truman (KTM) 16 + 20 + 18 + 18 = 72

4 Archie Butterfield (KTM) 18 + 16 + 20 + 16 = 70

5 Charlie Ward (KTM) 15 + 14 + 16 + 15 = 60

6 Author Moore (3 Flo Yamaha) 20 + 18 + 0 + 0 = 58

7 Tyler Cooper (KTM) 0 + 0 + 15 + 13 = 28

8 Chad Prince (SC Sporthomes Husqvarna) 0 + 13 + 0 + 14 = 27

9 Olly Waters (Matt Gardner MX KTM) 0 + 25 + 0 + 0 = 25





Incredibly, we have reached the halfway point in the Revo ACU British Championship schedule, as the series heads to Blaxhall in the Eastern Centre for the 4th round of the Championships in MX1, MX2, and the 125 & 250 Youth classes, with the Big-Wheel 85s running for the 3rd time following their absence at Lyng.

Words: Ben Rumbold | Featured Image: RHL Activities

This will be the last of the one-day events this season, as from the next race at Hawkstone Park in the middle of June, the regular classes will be joined by WMX, SW85 & 65cc Youth races in a two-day format, although still just the one for the Pros. The Woodbridge & District Motorcycle Club go all-out to make Blaxhall a jewel in the crown of the Revo series and it will no doubt look absolutely mint for Sunday. I seriously recommend it, no matter how far

The tragic circumstances that cut short the Foxhill round will no doubt be acknowledged, although the Police investigation into the accident is still ongoing, preventing RHL from discussing it further.  All in the paddock will be looking to move on and participate in the sort of racing that we all know and love.

In MX1, the title is already between the top three in the series, and for once that does not include defending Champion Tommy Searle.  The GTCI Revo Kawasaki man is still racing and getting faster all the time, but his Oakhanger crash and the recovery from it has left with almost half the number of points of leader Harri Kullas’ tally of 111.  Anything can happen of course, but even the team are admitting that their 2023 Arenacross Champ is now shooting purely for race wins.

The Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha team is once again pitting Kullas against the best from the Crendon Fastrack Honda squad, but this year that means two red riders in the mix, as three-time MX2 Champ Conrad Mewse lies just 3 points back despite not yet taking a race win. Joining Conrad is his teammate Josh Gilbert, the overall winner at Lyng and best Brit behind guest star Jeffrey Herlings in the single moto at Foxhill. He is only 5 points back from the #426, so 8 behind the leader! There is still all to play for and no clear favourite, so this three-way scrap for the title could go all the way!  Mewse is great in the soft going and the next two rounds at Blaxhall & Hawkstone will be right up his alley, but Kullas is no mug in these conditions either and the most important part of all of these races, with all contenders so evenly matched, will be the gate and first corner!

As well as Searle, there are several riders who could get amongst them and make all the difference by taking points away from the title contenders. Fourth in the standings, despite finishing no better than that yet, is veteran former Champ Shaun Simpson, who won last season at the Suffolk venue and has showed great speed despite poor starts and small crashes hampering his campaign. He is 41 points behind Kullas so again, race wins will be his target. Brad Todd is 5th, but will come under pressure from Searle this weekend if he can’t improve his starts.  The hungry Honda privateer on the C-Res Bikesport machine, with support from the Ultimate Wheels Thunder Road squad, has a point to prove and will never say die, and is definitely one to watch in the closing stages of any race.

Some of the fastest in the class have already had issues that have deprived them of any title aspirations, but fiery Scot John Adamson on the ASA United GASGAS, revitalised Russian Evgeny Bobryshev on the SC Sporthomes Husqvarna, and GP-racing Ashton Dickinson on the TALK Templant KTM are all capable of being a real headache if they start well!

Foreign imports Tristan Purdon (Gabriel SS24 KTM) and Miro Sihvonen (SC Sporthomes Husqvarna) have not enjoyed good starts to the season, Purdon plagued with bad starts and Sihvonen with a concerning arm-pump issue. Purdon rode well here on debut last year and they will both be looking to turn their season around. Irish flyers Martin Barr (Apico Husqvarna) and Stuey Edmonds (S Briggs Commercials Honda) could also be strong, especially if the weather gets rough.

Chambers Racing’s Tom Grimshaw is starting to look stronger in recovery from his Italian GP injuries and could be a real factor if he gets back to his Oakhanger pace, with Jamie Carpenter on the Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha and Liam Knight on the Gabriel KTM also looking to fire into the series top ten in the fiercely-competitive field. The Phoenix Tools/EvenStrokes Kawasaki new boy Jay Hague needs to find the results that his obvious speed merits.  Local aces Luke Parker – who scored a top ten moto at Lyng – and Ben Cole will also hope to show well in front of their home fans.  It’s going to be a hot contest – even in qualification as the MX1 boys will be out first, so look for some blazing pace on the virgin-fresh circuit first thing in the morning!

The MX2 class will close out the day, and in a season full of contract changes and guest riders, there are yet more spices thrown into the pot for Blaxhall. Red plate holder Isak Gifting (Stebbings Car Superstore Powered by BikeSure & 426 Motorsports), has a 31-point lead over ASA United GASGAS’s Bobby Bruce, and until Foxhill the two GP men were the class of the field, joined at Lyng by Jack Chambers, who has sadly decided to jet home to Florida this week to prepare for the Latvian MXGP.

However they will be joined this week by Welsh flyer Joel Rizzi, who has already raced both Yamaha and Honda in the MX2 GPs this year, and has fixed up a ride with DK Off-Road on a GASGAS for Blaxhall, prior to flying our to the USA to take in some AMA Nationals. Despite all the contract issues, Rizzi has shown speed by winning the Hawkstone International in MX2, and could be a threat around a circuit he did very well at in his Youth days.

Only two points behind Bruce, incredibly, lies the SC Sporthomes/Geartec Husqvarna of 2012 & ’13 Champion, Elliott Banks-Browne! The 32-year-old was a revelation of the Arenacross tour at the start of the year, and took his first moto win in MX2 for ten years at Foxhill, even scrapping with old foe Mel Pocock at the early part of the race. Mel was waiting to see who would get tired first, and the answer was him as Elliott stayed on course while all of the GP men had issues. He is local to Blaxhall and will have a ton of support as well as circuit knowledge.

He is tied on points with Taylor Hammal, the Gabriel SS24 KTM man returning from an injury-wracked 2022 to again push for home and GP success. He has joined Bruce and Rizzi in scoring points at world level, and with better starts could be right up the front at Blaxhall. He was 3rd at Foxhill behind Blades Bikes Kawasaki man Charlie Cole, who scored a career best at the British with 2nd place and is enjoying the best form of his adult career after topping MX2 at Cusses Gorse last weekend. He jumped to 6th in points at Foxhill, just behind two-stroke hero and Hampshire favourite Jake Millward on the Verde Shiloh KTM. The 250 smoker could be a serious weapon around Blaxhall.

Mel Pocock, standing in for Dylan Walsh at GTCI Revo Kawasaki, mentioned at Foxhill that as well as him and EBB, he might give another old rival Jake Nicholls a call to see if he can join in – well he must have done so, because the #45 is coming back out of retirement again for a blast at Blaxhall!  With a stirring 2nd at the Hawkstone International behind Rizzi, the TRU7 Honda Racing Academy team boss could well run strong again, especially at the start of the race, and if all three of the old stagers get together it could be an absolute riot to watch!

The youth of today, it has to be said, does need to pull its collective socks up against the more experienced opposition, with Sam Nunn (Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha) and Charlie Heyman (TRU7 Honda Racing Academy) are having difficult starts to the year despite showing great pace at times. Heyman’s fellow rookie Ben Mustoe has been a surprise package, running top ten on the ASA United GASGAS, and former AMCA Champ Jamie Wainwright will be looking to get the WPH/SBE/Pure/Redline KTM back up towards the top six position he was in before Foxhill.

The Chambers Racing pairing of Glenn McCormick and Ben Franklin, the Phoenix EvenStrokes Kawasaki of Carlton Husband, and GRT Impact KTM’s fast rookie Joe Brookes will all be looking to break out from the hectic MX2 pack. Gonna be a firestorm!

The Youth classes have been dominated by training partners Billy Askew on the GTCI Revo Kawasaki 250, and Reece Jones on the SJP Moto KTM 125, with the latter also campaigning in EMX and getting desperately close to the points there.  They are the future stars of British MX and will be joined by former BW85 British Champ Tyla Hooley, who returns from injury on the 125cc 723 Motorsports Fantic.  Another fascinating contest!

The Big-Wheel 85 class was also close at Foxhill, with MGMX teamster Charlie Richmond rising to take the win at Foxhill ahead of the previously dominant Josh Vail on the SJP Moto Husqvarna. Battle will be rejoined!

As previously announced, there will be no Livestream, so keep in touch with the results here on MX Vice.  Or make your way to the awesome, golf-course style mowed perfection of the circuit itself, found at Postcode IP17 1LG, signposted off the A12 from Woodbridge, or use the What Three Words – TWEAKED.OUTSIZE.COASTING

Myself, Ben Rumbold, will be commentating trackside with young local microphone master Stefan Hicks – see you down there!