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British Championship

Stat Sheet: Canada Heights

News, notes, stats and facts.

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There is so much that goes on at each Maxxis British Championship round that it is inevitable that you will overlook certain things. That is where our regular ‘Stat Sheet’ feature comes into play, however, as we focus on the details that you may have overlooked.

MX1

Best Times (Moto One)

Evgeny Bobryshev

2:06.619

Elliott Banks-Browne

2:06.888

Jake Nicholls

2:07.145

Ivo Monticelli

2:08.869

Tommy Searle

2:09.108

Laps Led (Moto One)

Jake Nicholls

13

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Jake Nicholls has a seven-point lead in the series standings.

MPS Images

Best Times (Moto Two)

Jake Nicholls

2:09.863

Evgeny Bobryshev

2:10.115

Graeme Irwin

2:10.545

Elliott Banks-Browne

2:11.586

Tommy Searle

2:11.894

Laps Led (Moto Two)

Jake Nicholls

13

Elliott Banks-Browne

1

– Whilst reflecting on why Jake Nicholls was so strong at Canada Heights, Evgeny Bobryshev commented that he was just too good on the opening laps. The lap times below, which were pulled from the second MX1 moto, back that comment up, as Nicholls was quicker than his closest competitor on seven of the first eight laps. The very first lap ended up being the fastest time of the race as well. It is also worth noting that the lap time that Bobryshev recorded on lap six was the fastest that he went all race.

Jake Nicholls

Evgeny Bobryshev

Difference

Lap 1

2:09.863

2:10.756

-0.893

Lap 2

2:10.122

2:10.277

-0.155

Lap 3

2:11.066

2:13.512

-2.446

Lap 4

2:10.543

2:10.835

-0.292

Lap 5

2:10.922

2:10.957

-0.035

Lap 6

2:11.686

2:10.115

+1.571

Lap 7

2:12.660

2:13.535

-0.875

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Jake Nicholls has now claimed nineteen moto wins in Britain.

MPS Images

– The second round of the Maxxis British Championship was a big day for Jake Nicholls, as it was arguably his biggest 450F victory. Nicholls has only swept both motos in the MX1 class once before, you see, which was at Culham last year. How many times did he manage that in the MX2 division though? Once, back at Lyng in 2013. Nicholls was a wildcard that day and did not compete in any other rounds in Britain.

– Following two moto victories at Canada Heights, Jake Nicholls has now claimed nineteen race wins in the Maxxis British Championship during his career. The sixth round in 2007 was where his first triumph occurred. Three thousand one hundred and ninety-three days have been and gone since that poignant date. The most individual victories that Nicholls has claimed in a single season is four (2010), so he is already well on his way to smashing that.

– Jake Nicholls obviously had a season-best finish at Canada Heights, but who else did that? Ivo Monticelli (third), Tommy Searle (fifth), Stuart Edmonds (sixth), Gert Krestinov (seventh), Erki Kahro (eighth), Jordan Divall (fourteenth), Carlton Husband (sixteenth), Shaun Southgate (sixteenth), Matt Burrows (seventeenth) and Aaron McCarroll (nineteenth) all managed it at the second round of the current campaign.

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Elliott Banks-Browne is chasing his first MX1 title in Britain.

MPS Images

– The battle that Elliott Banks-Browne and Evgeny Bobryshev had in moto one kept the crowd on their toes, as the two scrapped over second until the latter hit the dirt in the waves. The pair were very close through the first half, however, as their times were almost identical. For a better look at those lap times, peruse the table below.

Elliott Banks-Browne

Evgeny Bobryshev

Difference

Lap 2

2:08.464

2:08.620

-0.156

Lap 3

2:06.952

2:07.656

-0.704

Lap 4

2:07.684

2:07.470

+0.214

Lap 5

2:06.888

2:06.619

+0.269

Lap 6

2:07.958

2:07.368

+0.590

Lap 7

2:08.129

2:08.544

-0.415

– Evgeny Bobryshev has not completed too many motos in the Maxxis British Championship, especially compared to his competition, but Canada Heights still marked the nineteenth time that he has finished inside of the top three in a moto. The fact that he has only completed twenty-five motos in Britain through his career makes that statistic particularly impressive! Twelve of those trips to the podium were victories.

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A poor start in the second moto hindered Tommy Searle.

MPS Images

– Tommy Searle had a steady start to his return, but then caught fire after a poor start in the second moto. Searle got pinched off entering the first turn and that left him twenty-sixth at the end of lap one. Whilst moving through the field, however, he set lap times that were rather impressive and he even ended up being the quickest on track towards the end. That point in the moto is highlighted below.

Jake Nicholls

Evgeny Bobryshev

Tommy Searle

Lap 9

2:11.990

2:12.940

2:11.894

Lap 10

2:12.709

2:14.007

2:14.997

Lap 11

2:13.863

2:14.834

2:13.634

Lap 12

2:15.549

2:20.123

2:14.009

Lap 13

2:19.633

2:19.866

2:16.635

– Tommy Searle was not inside of the top three in either moto on Sunday, which rarely happens to him at a round of the Maxxis British Championship. When was the last time that he contested a round and did not land on the podium in either moto? Well, incredibly, it was at the sixth round in 2007 and that was three thousand nine hundred and twelve days ago. 8-DNF was his scorecard on that day.

– Evgeny Bobryshev is one of only four riders to finish in the top ten in every moto thus far. Jake Nicholls, Brad Anderson and Ryan Houghton have also managed it. The level of inconsistency is quite surprising. In comparison, six guys managed it through the first two rounds last year.

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Evgeny Bobryshev has been the most consistent rider thus far.

MPS Images

MX2

Best Times (Moto One)

Mel Pocock

2:07.710

Conrad Mewse

2:08.252

Martin Barr

2:08.890

Josh Spinks

2:09.037

Josh Gilbert

2:09.294

Laps Led (Moto One)

Conrad Mewse

6

Mel Pocock

6

Josh Spinks

2

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Conrad Mewse has not yet been beaten in the British series.

MPS Images

Best Times (Moto Two)

Martin Barr

2:12.648

Conrad Mewse

2:12.661

Josh Spinks

2:12.989

Mel Pocock

2:13.474

Josh Gilbert

2:14.248

Laps Led (Moto Two)

Conrad Mewse

7

Mel Pocock

3

Josh Spinks

4

– When was the last time that there was not a single Japanese bike on the overall podium in the MX2 division? Well, actually, it is not too uncommon for that to happen in the Maxxis British Championship. Todd Kellett (Hitachi KTM UK), Mel Pocock (Revo Husqvarna) and Josiah Natzke (Hitachi KTM UK) shut the Japanese out at Blaxhall last year. In fact, there was just one Japanese bike in the top eight at that race last year. KTM and Husqvarna simply dominate MX2 in Britain.

– Conrad Mewse deserves plenty of props for his ride, as it is rare for a rider to start the season in such a dominant fashion. When was the last time that an MX2 rider won the first four motos of the season? Well, almost unbelievably, it has not happened in the last thirteen years. The results that have been made available by the ACU only go back that far and no one has managed it through that period.

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A sickness threatened to hinder Conrad Mewse at round two.

MPS Images

– Thanks to the amount of time that he has spent with factory squads, Conrad Mewse has not spent that much time in the Maxxis British Championship. ‘426’ has actually only raced twelve motos in the series at this point. However, with that in mind, his statistics stack up pretty well, as he has finished on the podium in six of those races and won four. Those numbers will grow considerably by the end of the current season.

– The second MX2 moto was really a race of two halves. Martin Barr was quicker than Conrad Mewse on each of the first six laps, but then the latter was faster on the final seven. It is easy to pinpoint the exact moment when the momentum shifted from one rider to the next, but the table below will do a better job of explaining that.

Conrad Mewse

Martin Barr

Difference

Lap 4

2:14.151

2:13.661

+0.490

Lap 5

2:14.469

2:13.435

+1.034

Lap 6

2:14.907

2:12.817

+2.090

Lap 7

2:13.767

2:15.573

-1.806

Lap 8

2:13.195

2:13.972

-0.777

Lap 9

2:13.849

2:17.122

-3.273

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Martin Barr almost grabbed a moto win at Canada Heights.

MPS Images

– The first MX2 race of the day was rather similar to what is shown above, funnily enough, as Mel Pocock was faster than Conrad Mewse on the first three laps. The momentum shifted at that point in the race, as Mewse was then faster from lap four on. Pocock still had the best time of the race though; the time that he recorded on the third lap was good enough for that.

Conrad Mewse

Mel Pocock

Difference

Lap 2

2:09.709

2:09.043

+0.666

Lap 3

2:09.360

2:07.710

+1.650

Lap 4

2:09.068

2:08.717

+0.351

Lap 5

2:09.369

2:10.191

-0.822

Lap 6

2:08.813

2:10.250

-1.437

Lap 7

2:08.252

2:09.905

-1.653

– Mel Pocock has reached a milestone this year. The third-place finish that he acquired in moto one at Culham was his fiftieth podium finish in the Maxxis British Championship! Another two podium finishes were acquired at Canada Heights, of course, so his career total now sits at fifty-two. It is rather likely that he will reach sixty before this season concludes.

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Mel Pocock has now finished on the box in fifty-two British motos.

MPS Images

– Sunday also marked the first time that Mel Pocock has finished on the box in both motos at a round of the Maxxis British Championship since his devastating injury. The last time that he actually managed that was at the third event in 2014. It was a little trickier in those days, however, as there were three races at each event. Where was that round held? Canada Heights!

– When Josh Spinks took the lead early on in each race, he immediately attempted to throw the hammer down. Spinks set his fastest time on the opening lap of the second moto, for example, and did it on the second lap of race one. Fourth was the position that he eventually ended up with, which matched his career best. When was the last time that he occupied that position? Blaxhall in July last year.

– Jamie Carpenter had an eventful time at Canada Heights, as he jumped from Kawasaki to Husqvarna in the weeks prior. Once at the race, which was his first on the FC 250, he struggled with a chest infection and his breathing. The issue caused him to drop to thirteenth in the first moto and then he pulled out of the final encounter, in an attempt to avoid further complications.

Words: Lewis Phillips | 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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