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British Championship

Shaun Simpson ready for Arenacross

Simpson eager for action.

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Following what’s bound to be a wild season-opening weekend in Belfast’s SSE Arena, the 2023 Arenacross Tour heads straight to Aberdeen in Scotland where the brand-new 15,000-seat P&J Live Arena will host rounds three and four of the championship over the weekend of the 28th and 29th of January.


Words: Press Release | Lead Image: Arenacross UK


Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city and is famous for many things, it’s known throughout the world as the Granite City because so many of the local buildings are built out of the locally-quarried stone blocks, it’s also home to Scotland’s oldest bridge, a massive amount of whiskey distilleries and many of the world’s finest golf courses. And did you also know that Aberdeen is also considered to be the luckiest place in the UK to buy a lottery ticket with over 40 millionaires coming from the area? Perhaps you should make a purchase while you’re in the area for the Arenacross.

One man who’ll be desperate for a little of that luck to come his way will be the one rider that’s carrying the hopes of a whole nation on his shoulders as the only Scot in the Arenacross Pro class line-up – Gabriel KTM’s Shaun Simpson.

The 34-year-old from Fife has had a stunning career in the sport, winning world championship races around the globe as well as several national titles (and not just in the UK). However, throughout it all, he’s rarely had the opportunity to race in events as prestigious as Arenacross on home soil in Scotland – a handful of times at best – and so this will be a great opportunity both for him and his many followers.

“In my whole career there have been very few opportunities to race in Scotland at events of this level,” confirms Shaun. “So, racing in Aberdeen will be really cool. Aberdeen is only an hour and a bit up the road for me and is where a few of my personal sponsors and some family friends are from. I think there will be a great atmosphere.”

Of course, Simpson is signed up for more than just his local round and will be one of 24 professional British riders looking to win this year’s championship – the first to be recognised by the ACU as an official British Championship.

“It’s really cool that the ACU has seen how important Arenacross is to the sport and given it recognition as an official British Championship. The series promoter has gone all out to attract the top British riders and there’s good prize money at each round. Having two rounds in Aberdeen is a bonus and I definitely didn’t want to pass that opportunity up so I committed to the whole championship.”

Although Simpson is a three-time British champion and winner of four Grands Prix in the premier MXGP class, he has limited indoor experience and other than a few one-off indoor appearances where he’s acquitted himself well has to go back a few years since he raced a full indoor championship but nevertheless is excited to get going.

“To be honest I am really looking forward to it,” he admits. “It’s not something I’ve done for a wee while, but it is something I have done in the past. Okay, it’s only been one-off events here and there and I’ve not done a full indoor series since I was on a 125cc two-stroke in the early noughties, but it will be a great experience to give it a go, see how it is and relive my youth a little bit.”

A believer of the five Ps strategy – Plan, Ploy, Pattern, Position and Perspective or Preparation Prevents P*ss Poor Performance if you prefer – Shaun already has his game plan figured out. “The formula for success is to stay safe in practice and set a good time, get a good gate pick for the heats, get a good start in them and stay out of trouble and then do the same again in the Main Event.”

It sounds easy when you put it like that, but Shaun is fully aware of just how intense the competition will be once the gate drops. “I know it will be tight and that any one of five or six guys will have a shot of winning on any individual night which will keep it interesting for the riders and very exciting for the fans.”

Does Simpson put himself on that list of potential winners? He sure does…

“I’d definitely like to think that I could win at least one or two races and if not then I’d like to be on the podiums at the very least,” he admits. “If I can do that and stay consistent, then I think taking the title is very possible.”

The 2023 Arenacross Tour:

Round 1: Friday 20th January – SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Round 2: Saturday 21st January – SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland – SOLD OUT!

Round 3: Saturday 28th January – P&J Live, Aberdeen, Scotland

Round 4: Sunday 29th January – P&J Live, Aberdeen, Scotland

Round 5: Saturday 4th February – The Resorts World Arena, Birmingham NEC, England

Round 6: Saturday 18th February – The OVO Arena, Wembley, England

Tickets are still available for both rounds of the Scottish leg of the Arenacross Tour presented by Fix Auto UK. Visit www.arenacrossuk.com and follow the BUY TICKETS link.

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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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