After the Covid pandemic meant that the 2020 AMCA British Motocross Championship was a short three round bash with an August start followed by a rather congested 2021 series, finally it looks like normal service can be resumed.
For 2022, the fixture list appears to have produced a more balanced and manageable calendar. So this coming weekend, April 23rd/24th at Culham, it’s all systems go as the Championship powered by Datatag and supported by Dunlop finally roars back into action!
DATES AND VENUES
Round 1 April 23rd/24th @ Culham
Round 2 May 14th/15th @ Brookthorpe
Round 3 June 4th/5th @ Warmingham Lane
Round 4 July 3rd @ Hawkstone Park
Round 5 July 30th/31st @ Lower Drayton
Round 6 August 20th/21st @ Foxhills
Round 7 September 4th @ Bevercotes
Reserve Date September 10th/11th.
THE RIDERS
MX1
After winning his maiden AMCA title in 2021, Welshman Ashley Greedy on the LHRT Kawasaki will be back to defend his crown but who are his main challengers likely to be? Well, leading the chase are six times AMCA Champion Luke Burton and also double AMCA Champion Josh Waterman. Already both lads have been out racing and recording some impressive results so are sure to be right on the pace when the gate drops! Joining them are the likes of the 2021 MX1 runner-up and double AMCA Superclass Champion James Dodd, Luke Hawkins, Will Hughes, Adam Wells, Mark Young, Sion Talbot, James Mackrel of Northern Ireland and young Aaron Patstone.
For 2022, the MX1 start list looks a little different with some riders moving classes or dropping of the AMCA title race to contest Championships run by other organisations. Of the riders coming in though there appears to be one particular stand-out addition and its Dorset based Jake Shipton.
After being inactive in 2020 with Covid restrictions just about wiping out the racing calendar and then missing the entire 2021 season due to injury, the very talented Jake has signed for the FUS Marsh Geartec Husqvarna team. Jake will be desperate to make up for lost competition time and on the gas right from the off! Also on the MX1 registered list is Nev Bradshaw although it’s unclear at the moment if Nev will be racing at every round. His name though is certainly a very welcome inclusion in the series!
MX2
In an over- subscribed MX2 class, qualifying will be required at Culham to decide the starting riders. Whoever makes it though to the line for moto one and the series will know that there’s one particular rival they will certainly have to first overcome if they have any ambitions of scoring glory! It’s the superb Shane Carless, and not only is the FUS Marsh Geartec Husqvarna ace the defending MX2 Champion but he is also looking to score his fourth consecutive AMCA title. In 2019, Shane won the MX1 crown before following that up with a 125cc table topping performance in 2020.
So, whose going after Shane’s MX2 title in 2022, well for starters there’s Henry Williams, the Apex GasGas UK rider who was 3rd in the 2021 MX2 series. Also in the entry and going for it will be 2021 125cc AMCA Champion Kieran Banks on the Meredith MX Fantic, Corey Hockey, Cory McShane, Harry Linton. Lee Truman and Josh Peters who in 2022 will be a teammate of Williams.
Dropping down from the big 450F class to try their luck on a 250F instead are the likes of Tommy Alba, Zac Stealey, Jimmy Margetson and Rhys Walker whilst Luke Newman, Jack Timms, Jordan Wright and several others move up from the 2021 AMCA 125cc class. New names on the block in what looks likely to be a very hotly contested MX2 class are Matt Burrows and Jake Preston whilst 2017 AMCA MX2 Champion the very experienced Ray Rowson returns for another blast!
125CC
Also over- subscribed and requiring qualification at Culham to decide the starting line-up for the 2022 series is the 125cc class. With reigning Champion Kieran Banks having moved up to contest MX2, a new name will be eventually lifting the title. The stand-out aces going for that top slot in 2022 and at the top of the registered riders list are Kristian Whatley and Matt Bayliss although it’s unclear at present if either of these lads will be contesting the entire Championship.
Also after glory and surely starting as major contenders in this one are the likes of Luke Dean, the 2015 AMCA MX1 Champion, Matt Ridgway, Joel Fisher and Chris Povey. After sitting out 2020 and 2021, Povey the 2019 125cc runner-up returns to action as a member again of the FUS Marsh Geartec Husqvarna team. After a very successful campaign in the 2021 AMCA BW85cc Championship, winner Oliver Rigby, runner-up Charlie Hucklebridge and 3rd placed Jack Davis all move up to try their luck on 125cc machinery.
VETS
The incredible Phil ‘Factory’ Mercer will be defending his AMCA Vets crown in 2022. Also going again this season is last year’s Vets runner-up and 11 times AMCA Champion Gary Davies. For the new campaign, Gary has ditched his trusty Cradley Kawasaki and will be instead a member of the Apex GasGas UK team.
Those very consistent Gloucester based brothers Simon and James Lane will certainly be looking to take the challenge to Phil and Gary in 2022. Simon (4) and James (1) are both former AMCA Champions so they know what is required to gain success! Other Vets regulars to look out for in this class include the ever reliable Sean Smith, Ste Marlow, Brian Staples, Rich Tudor, Matt Chaplin, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Marchant and Gareth Dunsford.
Having only just passed the ripe old-age of 40, watch out for Jamie Powell. Having previously competed at the front end of just about every different capacity AMCA Championship throughout a career in which he also represented Great Britain in the IMBA European series, Jamie could certainly be a major contender in the Vets!
YOUTH
After winning the 2021 AMCA SW85cc title, Oakley Kettle moves up to Big-Wheeled machinery for 2022. So far, 26 riders have registered for this class and this entry includes two lads making their Championship racing debuts. Tyler Lane is the son of top Vets Championship chaser Simon whilst Harry is the son of Mike Keenan, the team owner of the all-conquering FUS Marsh Geartec Husqvarna outfit.
Words and images by Mike Wood
