Connect with us
       

British Championship

Insight: Team CAB Screens

An in-depth chat with the CAB Screens outfit.

Published

on

The CAB Screens Honda Racing team have become one of the most popular teams in the paddock, thanks to their professional operation and passion for the sport. They represent the hardcore fans. So, with that in mind, now seemed like an ideal time to catch up with Ian and Lee Webber to discuss the squad, their riders and the current season.

MX Vice: You guys have been around the pits now for a few years now, but when did it all start?

CAB Screens: 2012 we started, with a rider called George Clarke.

How did you guys get into it in the first place?

We both (Lee and Ian Webber) retired from motocross, but we had an huge interest in it still. We both got to a point in our life where we thought we could sort of financially support someone and from that point it has snowballed massively out of control! Here we are, talking to you with knackered knees.

Enlarge

Site-Dan-Thornhill
Dan Thornhill runs eighth in the MX1 standings, with twenty-five points.

MPS Images

I think that we can all agree that motocross is very addictive.

Yeah, there are those days when you sort of go home and you wonder why you do it. Then you look back to see what the guys did in the first race and you know why you do it. It is addictive and you just keep trying to get better results and better results. You do wonder why you do it, as there is no financial reward in motocross, but nothing comes close to the feeling that motocross gives you, especially on the good days.

I have always thought that it is hard for anybody who is outside of the sport to relate to that.

Every year Lee says he is not going to go any bigger or do any more, then here we are! We have thrown a couple of Grand Prix in in the past and all sorts. It is a crazy journey. I’m sure in ten years time we’ll look back and go, wow, that was the best time of our lives.

Well, you cannot take it with you! So, how did you go from helping one person to racing in Europe and at MXGP?

I think it is to do with the riders. If you look at someone like Dan [Thornhill], who was our first real potential rider that could go all the way, he improved every year, so we have had to improve. That is what kind of happened every year since, it is the way it is gone. So, next thing you know, you are competing in the British top ten and it becomes a whole new ballgame operating the team with resources, products and finances.

Enlarge

Site-James-Harrison
James Harrison runs ninth in the MX1 standings, with twenty-five points.

MPS Images

You have had a some headline sponsors in the past, who is it this year?

This year it is me (CAB Screens).

For those that are not familiar with the company, what do CAB Screens do?

There are two companies. There is CAB Screens limited, which fits vehicle glass and construction glass covering the whole of the south of England. Then there is also a company called Leydene, which is UPVC windows and bespoke glass. There are two aspects to the company. That has gotten bigger and it has enabled the team to get bigger. We now have a group of people that put money into the team financially and also product sponsors that have just got bigger and bigger each year. So as we got bigger, they helped us out.

We try and give back to them as much as we can. We have got some great people involved in the team now and this year Paul Hobbs has come on board, who ran Hobbs Racing for many years. Paul has been brilliant, he is so passionate about the sport and everyone knows what he puts into motocross. Every year there is another step up and hopefully another sponsor can help us out.

One thing we see from you as a team is your emphasis on social media.

That is all Ian. He works really hard at doing the social media. It is such an important thing now. Ian realises that and I realise that. It is just about being grateful, really. That is all it is. Lee and I have always been grateful for sponsors giving us whatever it is. We are grateful for it, because it is something they could have sold to someone else. We are grateful for the fans and we can talk and engage with them on social media.

You’ll see people at every round picking up the giveaways, goodie bags with stickers and key rings from our sponsors. For us it has always been an important part and something we both like doing. We both update the Facebook page and its important to put good content on social media, especially when Dan gets the holeshot.

We are not a rich team. There are some teams in the paddock who can throw thousands and thousands of budget at it and probably not have to worry as much about pleasing sponsors, but we have to and we want to. We want to make sure that the sponsors are so happy with us so that they want us next year. We need them to keep driving this team forward.

Enlarge

Site-Dan-Thornhill-2
Dan Thornhill is in his fourth year with the CAB Screens outfit.

MPS Images

How good is it running the world’s greatest wheels from Talon Engineering?

Absolutely brilliant. There was four of them at the front today, did you see them? They have been with us since the start. Rob and Dave do a great job and their support is important, so it is great we can give something back to them.

How important is the rider’s family to you? From the outside looking in, it seems like a team effort between the team and families.

Yeah, absolutely. We have such hard-working and honest families around the riders. I have a great relationship with Dan and always have. We have a close relationship. We always work together. We speak most days on the phone. He is so hard on himself sometimes. It is unbelievable! We have to calm him down a little bit.

It is the same with James as well. James and his family have been here three years now. Dan, this is his fourth year. They are a great family. This is the reason why we started it because financially to give something to Dan, we could see that there was something there. He is starting to reap rewards now. He works for Dave Watson now and that’s starting to pay off. He is a great kid and comes from a great family.

Interview: James Burfield | Lead Image: MPS Images

British Championship

Bickers to supply UK market with Alpinestars

Published

on

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

Continue Reading

Breaking News

NPC 2024 IS ON! All eyes are on Oakhanger.

Published

on

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

Continue Reading

British Championship

Andrew Short confirmed for the 2024 VMXdN at Foxhill

No Short measures for Team USA

Published

on

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/

Love what we do? Please read this article as we try to raise £30,000.

Continue Reading

Latest