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British Championship

Catch Up: Nathan Dixon

Nathan Dixon looks ahead.

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The MX2 class in both the Maxxis British Championship and Michelin MX Nationals is in a state of transition, as some of the established stars have vacated the series and there is a bit of a gap for new names to step up. Nathan Dixon could be one of those guys, as the niggling injury that he encountered last year is no longer an issue.

MX Vice: How did your off-season go? Obviously the injury last year carried over a little bit, but are you going to be all good for the first British round?

Nathan Dixon: The off-season so far has gone really well, I’ve hit the gym big style and put on an extra five kilograms of muscle, which I really needed. I was been in France and Spain with the RMJ Pro Academy, so got some good bike fitness and speed out there. I smashed my navicular to bits, yeah, and it took a great surgeon and a lot of metal to fix. I should have had the metal work removed really and got fully fit before returning, but the temptation to give the season a go was too much. You live and learn. The metal work is all out now and Harris & Ross did a great job.

Just go back to last year quickly and explain what it was like to go through such a difficult year with injuries, especially after breaking through the year before.

It was  really hard mentally and physically, as I’d really got myself ready for big results. I could qualify well and set fast laps, so my speed was (and is) great, but without leg strength it was really tough. I really thought I could tough it out, but your legs are such a key factor in racing. It caused problem after problem.

Knowing that you are now at your best and carrying no niggling issues, do you notice a difference in your confidence and how you ride? It must make everything easier.

Yeah, I feel like a different rider and I felt more in control even when I had only been on the bike for a month! I’ve been working hard to gain a lot of whole body strength, which I was really lacking last year, and especially leg strength with RMJ and Stephen Smith. I feel we have made a massive improvement in that area.

Having been with this team from the start, just explain how the whole operation has grown as we enter the new season and how that has had an impact on you.

The team RFX KTM has grown again this year with the seven riders, from young Ashton showing us all how its done on his 65cc up to MX1. Obviously I’ve been on teams with Joel [Rizzi] and Henry [Williams] for years, which is great as we know each other really well. It’s also great to have Ash join with all his experience. I think the team manages to balance professionalism and an awesome setup with a friendly atmosphere, which is perfect. That’s all down to Paul Irwin, James Dixon (my dad) and all the team at RaceFX.

I am guessing that shining in GPs would be a priority, if you could choose, so is your focus solely on that? What do you think you can achieve in Britain?

Yeah, for sure, GPs is the goal and this year I will be competing in seven of them. After doing three last year I know what to expect going into this year and I feel I will be better prepared with being fully fit and healthy. My aim is to start scoring points and see where it goes from there. In the UK the goal is always to win and I feel that this is possible for me, with being healthy and injury free. I’m putting the hours in so let’s see.

Some riders before you have spent as long in EMX250 as possible, so why have you decided to do the opposite and go to MX2 fairly early?

With being twenty-one and the age limit being twenty-three in the MX2 class it just made sense to not waste time in the EMX250 class and bite the bullet and take on the world championship. With the three GPs that I did last year, it was a massive learning curve. I will be taking what I learnt last year and applying it to the GPs that I’m doing this year.

How does being a RMJ coach (with the Rookie Academy) slot into your programme? Will it take you away from your training or give you time to spend at the track and pick things up

Being an RMJ coach fits perfectly around my training programme, as Richy has made sure of that. It’s good for me to be out coaching the rookie academy; it makes you see things about the riding style of a rider and how you can change little aspects to help them go faster. Most of the time I can apply those things to my riding as well, which works well.

Interview: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: RFX KTM

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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