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British Championship

Viewpoint: Ben Watson

Ben Watson opens up.

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Whilst Adam Sterry and Conrad Mewse were rising to prominence on the world’s greatest stage earlier this year, Ben Watson was nursing an injured foot on the sidelines and watching any momentum that he had slip away. Watson started the season with an impressive haul of points, despite some questionable machinery, but did not have a shot at building on that after sustaining an injury at the Argentine fixture. Now riding the wave of an ‘orange’ boost, Watson has his sights set on making a splash again.

MX Vice: It has been a while since we last saw you on a bike, so explain everything you went through with the injury. At first it sounded like there was a chance of you being back sooner than this…

Ben Watson: Yeah, it has been a crazy journey. When I crashed in Argentina I was, of course, taken straight to hospital. It was really difficult as there was not one person who could speak English; I was the only patient in there! After my x-ray we had to get Google Translate out, so they could type what they wanted to tell me into the computer. The only thing that made sense to me was “three metatarsals broken” and “cast on for four weeks.” I was fairly happy with that, to be honest, and not too down about it, because I was in a lot of pain and thought it was worse than that.

I flew straight home on Monday morning; I did an internal flight in Argentina, went from there to Washington and then from Washington to London. When I arrived home I went to Harris and Ross to get a CT scan and that was it. The surgeon told me he was ninety-five percent sure that I would not race again this year. He told me the ins and outs of what I had actually done and, as well as the three broken metatarsals, I had partially dislocated and totally shattered the navicular. That week I had surgery with two plates and around twelve screws.

A couple of months later I had one plate and the screws removed, but now I am finally back on a bike and getting into it properly after a lot of hard work from myself and everyone at Harris and Ross.

Is everything back to normal now or do you still have a way to go with the foot?

I am still doing two days a week at Harris and Ross, but I am back riding. I have no problems with day-to-day things nor is riding an issue. We are just working extra hard now to put the final pieces together and make sure left matches right with strength etc.

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Ben Watson started the season with three fourteenth place finishes in four motos.

ConwayMX

This year has obviously slowed your progression down a bit. I am sure you thought you’d be talking to factory teams at this point, right? How do you feel about going into another season with Hitachi Construction Machinery KTM? 

It has a little bit, but I am also thinking that it hasn’t. After seven months of not riding, I didn’t feel like I had missed one day when I first got back on a bike. You do not forget how to ride a bike, no matter how much time you miss. It is just your bike fitness and strength. I’ve kept on top of that over the last four months though, so I am feeling stronger and fitter than ever. I think that break has done me good. The longest that I had ever been off a bike, before this, was three weeks.

I have really had time to think about how much I want it and getting back on a bike. I have been so focused on the little things that you forget about just going riding all the time. I’m not disappointed at all; I want to thank the whole Hitachi team for sticking behind at the lowest point of my career. I feel lucky to have a full Grand Prix ride for 2017 with almost everything that I want and need. Jake and I are well ahead of where we were preparing for this year. We work well together, will be pushing each other to the max and hoping for a great 2017 season.

Watching [Adam] Sterry get on a factory bike now, you must think ‘that could be me’ a little bit? Do you feel pressure to get to that level by this point next year?

Okay, yes, I feel that could have been me. Again I’m thinking about what I’m doing and just focusing on what I have got, not what I could have had. I’m very happy for Adam; he has been a good friend and I hope he has a great season. My aim is to be on a factory team this time next year, yes, but I won’t put any pressure on myself. If I am having fun riding and racing, then I’ll be happy.

Going back to KTM with the team is almost like going home for you, so I’m guessing you are happy about that? You never really got going on the Husqvarna…

Yeah, I am really looking forward to new colours again. We have some great people aboard next year, including Contract Furniture Group who supported me so that I could go to the flyaway races this year. The bike is the same, okay, but it still feels like a change. I didn’t have the opportunity to get going properly [on the Husqvarna], but I had an eighth at Valkenswaard. That was my only race without standard engines and suspension, so I would have liked to know what results I could have had. I crashed and hurt myself though, so that was that.

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Watson will travel to the flyaways next year with the support of his team, unlike this season.

ConwayMX

On both bikes you have had quite a few mechanicals, so does that worry you going into another year with the team? Does it hurt your confidence at all? 

I have had a crazy amount, yes, but that is out of my hands. I do not go into too much detail with that side of it, as I know that the team will always do what they can and do the best to get the bike as good as it can be. I just have to forget about it if I have a bike problem and concentrate on racing; everyone has problems and it is a part of the sport.

You’ll spend another year in the British series and should enter as the heavy favourite. It sounds like there will be less GP-level guys next year though, so do you think it’ll be useful for you to do it?

That is my goal, yeah. I want to be the British champ without a doubt. I have won lots of races, but now it is time to push and make it a championship. There will be less [elite riders], yes, but that is mainly because factory teams are based in Belgium a lot of the time and it is too much to keep going back and forth. I still think it will be very useful though, especially after seven months out. I want to get plenty of races in and I think the British Championship will be great. The tracks are always good and there is some good competition out there.

Most will forget, but it was almost two years ago now that you dominated the first British round at Hilton. I guess you expect to do that a lot in 2017?

Yeah, that is the aim. I hope to get as many wins as I can. I have got goals set and I hope I will be achieving them at each round.

Interview: Lewis Phillips | Image: ConwayMX

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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