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British Championship

Report: Verde Sports KTM

Rough outing for Verde.

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The third round of the Maxxis British Motocross Championship was held at the popular Kent track, Canada Heights. With Jake Nicholls taken out of the running due to injury, it has left the MX1 championship wide open between ten riders. It has now been narrowed down to just five riders, however, and Brad Anderson is one of those riders.

Canada Heights is a popular track that always attracts a good crowd and this weekend was no exception. The paddock was packed with more spectators there than at any of the other British rounds. The track was pretty slippery in places for the qualifying sessions, as the anticipated rain didn’t arrive. A lot of minor crashes made it difficult to get a fast lap in, so it was left to both experience and a little bit of luck of the draw.

MX2

Jake managed to find some good lines, but was unable to string together a fabulous full lap in the MX2 qualifying session. He wasn’t the only one though, so he managed to finish with a top-ten time that gave him the tenth gate pick for the day.

Jake got an excellent jump out the gate and scooted up the hill in the top five at the start of the first MX2 moto. There was a big crash on the second bend, however, and Jake got caught up in it, so that put him towards the back. Jake gave it his all and pulled through to fourteenth place, so was really on form, but then his brake pedal broke clean off. It was obviously weakened in the initial fall. The track was very rough and Jake had little control without his brake, so he had no option but to finish the race in a very disappointing thirty-second place.

Millward had another excellent start in the second and final encounter, as he came around the second bend in third. It was a fast race. The track resembled a speedway with sharp edges. Jake’s shoulders ached, as he held on tight on this tough track. His speed started to slow, but he was still strong, and he finished ninth.

Despite excellent starts, Jake just did not achieve the results that he so desperately needed after round two. His unfortunate brake damage in race one resulted in no points, then race two just did not go to plan. That gave Jake sixteenth overall, which does not show what he is truly capable of. This leaves him thirteenth in the championship heading into the next round.

MX1

In the MX1 class, Brad’s qualification was very messy. There were so many people coming off that it was near impossible to get a decent clear run. But, as Brad said, it was the same for everyone. Brad’s best time was on his sixth lap, when he managed to secure the seventh-gate pick for the day.

Brad came round the first corner in second in the first MX1 encounter. Irwin then found a way through and was closely followed by Elliott Banks-Browne. That left Brad to battle it out for fifth. A red-flag situation occurred soon after that, however, so the race ended just after the halfway point. This left Brad in fifth at the finish.

It was all about the start for Verde KTM and Brad’s second race was no exception. Anderson holeshot and held onto first place for a few laps. After losing three positions, he refused to let a spot on the podium get away and continued to apply pressure the whole race. It was not to be, however, so he crossed the finish line in fourth place.

Brad finally had some excellent starts this weekend and had two consistent rides. With a fifth and a fourth, he finished fourth overall. That leaves Brad fourth in the championship now, just twelve points behind third place. Hawkstone, however, is also one of Brad’s favourite tracks, so he’ll be hoping to close the gap on those ahead of him.

Jake Millward: “Gutted that my brake lever snapped in the first race. I had pushed so hard to come from the back. I was chuffed with my starts today, but the track took it out of me today and I really ached in race two. That made it hard to hang on.”

Brad Anderson: “Good starts made racing a lot easier. I had two solid results (5-4) that gave me fourth overall. With Whatley and Nicholls out for most of the season, it is going to be a close battle between five of us to get those top three places in the championship.”

Adrian Kirk: “It has been a disappointing start to the season and today was no exception. Jake rode well in his first race and Brad was consistently good throughout, but the results aren’t quite what we anticipated going into round four. Let’s hope things will turn from now on. Some good tracks are ahead. Hawkstone, Desertmartin and Preston Docks are definitely three favourites for both riders.”

Words: Press Release | Lead Image: MPS Images

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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