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British Championship

Discussion: Joel Rizzi

Joel Rizzi on his 114 deal.

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Joel Rizzi moving over to Honda 114 Motorsports is arguably the most surprising move ahead of the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship. Livia Lancelot talked about the signing on MX Vice last week and now Rizzi has given his account on how the two-year contract (with an option for a third season) came about. A lot is changing in Rizzi’s life, but those elements could turn him into a contender at the very highest level.

MX Vice: The Honda 114 Motorsports thing is official now, but how did it come about? When did you first hear about it? Run us through that process.

Joel Rizzi: I obviously left PAR Homes [RFX Husqvarna], but I had nothing! I had a few offers for MX2 rides in the ACU British Championship, but I wanted to do EMX250. I wanted to concentrate on the world scene. Jamie Dobb helps me out quite a bit, so he phoned me out of nowhere and said Honda 114 Motorsports were interested. I was like, “What? This is a bit crazy!” We started to talk about it a bit more and found out it was an MX2 ride. That was not the plan at first, as I wanted to do EMX250, but you have to take opportunities like this. Without Jamie Dobb, this deal would not have even been a thing. I am thankful for him. That is basically how this deal happened; Jamie Dobb got the word out there and Roger Harvey said good things about me as well. Without them, this would not have even been possible.

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Ray Archer

You put on Instagram that you were leaving PAR Homes, but I thought that was because you had this deal lined up? 

I had nothing! They dropped me, basically. They did not have enough money to do three riders in the world championship.

I heard you were talking to Buildbase and teams like that, but I guess you were never really interested?

Yeah, they all wanted to stick to the UK. If you want to make it big in the world championship, then you cannot be doing it from the UK. I had nothing though! We were just going to do the EMX off of our own back and then this came along.

You mentioned how the MX2 class was not really your plan. I spoke to Livia [Lancelot] not too long ago and she said they were talking about keeping you in EMX250. Would you have preferred that? 

I was easy with either one, you know. They have an EMX250 rider. There is nothing better than going into the MX2, to be fair, especially with a two-year deal. My goal is to just keep improving and I know I can shock some people, especially with an amazing team like this one.

The team is obviously based in the south of France. What will your living arrangements be? Are you going there on a full-time basis? Are your family going with you?

Yeah, I will be there from January on and my cousin is coming with me. That is his plan for the year really, to come to all of the races and be a bit of a parent. We will just be living the dream in France, practicing with the team and just grinding.

There will be no British stuff for you at all then. Is that weird to think? You have been deep in the British scene for years.

It is going to be weird! I know everyone in the British scene, whereas I only know a few people in the world championship. It is going to change. I am going to get to know everyone in MXGP and not know what is happening in the British. Ben Watson has done it and it is what you need to do to take it to next level, I think anyway.

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Ray Archer

You said that you think that you can shock some people and obviously everyone at Honda has said there are no expectations from their side. It sounds like you have a bit of a plan for where you want to be though. Would being in the points make you happy or are you looking at the top fifteen?

There is no goal, but there is a goal [laughs]. Everyone says there is no goal, but there is one. Points would be amazing. I just think that if we can get an amazing winter in then I have more. Josh [Gilbert] surprised some people last year and on a good day at a practice track I was only a couple of seconds off of him. I have Ruben Fernandez, one of the fastest riders in MX2, as a teammate, so I just feel like if I can put one hundred percent into it then I can get some good results in the first year.

I guess you will be working with Eric Sorby and then the team has a fitness guy as well, so that is all going to help.

Yeah, I have already been speaking to Eric Sorby on Instagram and he is looking forward to it. I spoke to Giacomo Gariboldi and he said that they did the same thing with Tim Gajser six years ago. They did not really know who he was, then six years down the line he is a four-time world champion with Honda. I want to follow in those footsteps with Honda.

People are probably looking at the results from this year, but you cannot really be judged off of that. You had a virus or something, right?

It was a normal virus and like a cold. I thought it was corona, but it definitely was not. I got that all checked out. I had such a good week in Latvia and I wanted to carry that through to Italy, but it just was not possible. I decided to call it before Lommel. I tried to ride before Lommel and just couldn’t do it. I wanted to focus on next year, because I thought I would stick with PAR Homes at the time. I took a couple of weeks off and then got the news that I would not be with PAR Homes. I did not really know what was going to happen and then I heard the 114 news, so I have never been so motivated in the gym and stuff like that.

Last thing. Is there one thing that you are a bit nervous about with this all-new deal, like moving to France or something? 

Not at the moment. There will be some nerves when it gets to it though, with it being the first time that we are doing the flyaway races and racing the best in the world. There are going to be nerves. There are no expectations on me though, so there is nothing that is really bothering me. All I can do is prepare as best I can and hang it out at the races. There are no nerves at the moment – it is just excitement.

Interview: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: MX Vice

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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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