After the initial disappointment of having to postpone the opening round of the Michelin MX Nationals powered by Milwuakee, the 2023 championship finally kicks into life this weekend at the fantastic new Oakhanger race circuit, near Bordon, Hampshire.
WORDS: PRESS RELEASE | IMAGES: MX NATIONALS UK / ELLIOT SPENCER
Although the new circuit, designed and built by Alfie Smith with assistance from Justin Barclay, didn’t make it’s debut with the MX Nationals as planned it did last weekend with the Revo ACU British championship and it certainly didn’t disappoint in putting the riders to the test. Since then the MX Nationals team have made some refined tweaks and improvements to the circuit having seen it in action and done more work in extending and levelling the paddock and parking areas and are all set for a good two days of action over the weekend to get the championship kicked off, albeit two weeks later than scheduled.
It’s the 10th anniversary of the MX Nationals and the team are proud to kick off that tenth year with another new circuit they’ve resourced and built with the help of the British Army following on from the success of the new Oxford Moto Parc for the final round of last year’s championship. Although the circuit is not permanent and will be flattened directly after the event, all being well with this year’s event the MX Nationals team can continue to work with the army and potentially develop and improve the venue for a return in 2024 and beyond.
But before then, there’s the rather big matter of getting the 2023 championship underway and yet again it’s a stacked out entry of riders across all classes ranging from the Syntol Lubricants Supermini Class all the way to the Leatt / Apico Elite Fastest 40 racers. Once again that looks set to be a brilliant championship battle as the best riders in the country battle it in the combined MX1 / MX2 race. Although being scored separately by class within the race expect to see some of the top MX2 riders mixing it at the sharp end of the races with the faster MX1 machines.
Defending MX1 and Fastest 40 champion Harri Kullas (Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha) will be wanting to get his championship defence off to a solid start as he goes for his fourth title in five years and the ‘threepeat’ after winning in 2021 and 2022 and if his performance at Oakhanger last weekend is anything to go by he’ll be hard to beat. One man that will feel confident of doing just that though will be Crendon Fastrack Honda Racing Hitachi Tru7’s Conrad Mewse who also looked really strong on his motocross debut for the team last week. As did his teammate Josh Gilbert who will want to put it on the box and get off to a solid start. Unfortunately Tommy Searle (GTCI / Revo Kawasaki) will be missing the opening round of the championship due to his nasty spill in the second moto last weekend.
In the MX2 class there will definitely be a new champion as 2022 winner Jamie Carpenter has moved up to the MX1 class to partner the reigning champion Kullas on the Cab Screen Crescent Yamaha team. It’s going to be good to watch the next generation of pro talent battle it out. Starting as one of the favourites will be Bobby Bruce (ASA United Gas Gas), even though he missed a good chunk of 2022 with a knee injury. He’ll have stiff competition from the likes of Jake Millward (Shiloh Verde Husqvarna), Carlton Husband (Phoenix Tools Even Strokes Kawasaki), Callum Mitchell (Lexa) and potentially last year’s MXY1 champion Charlie Heyman (Crendon Fastrack Honda Racing Hitachi Tru7) to name but a few.
Add the RFX Expert, Motoverde Amateur, Worx Financial / Spiral Graphics Clubman, Fly Futures MXY1/2 and Syntol Supermini 85cc classes into the mix and yet again the Michelin MX Nationals powered by Milwaukee is all good to go for another cracking weekend of hard fought racing to start the championship. It’s going to be rough, it’s going to be tough, it’s going to be incident packed and exciting.
Gates open at 8.30am on both days for spectators. Pre event tickets can be purchased using the link below at £20. Tickets on the gate are available at £25. The circuit will be signposted from the A325 Bordon bypass and all spectators and riders are encouraged to enter the circuit this way to avoid large volumes of traffic travelling through Oakhanger village and the surrounding area. Dogs are allowed on site but must be kept on a lead but please bring toilet bags and clean up after them as Oakhanger is an active military training ground. Please respect our armed forces by doing that and putting litter in the bins provided or taking it home with you…. and the MX Nationals team may be able to secure more new venues with the Military of Defence. Together we can!
TICKETS – https://form.jotform.com/MXNationals/amx-nationals-round-1-new-date-week
Fastest 40 Entry List
Race Number First Name Surname 2 John Adamson 31 Ben Edwards 3 Josh Gilbert 6 Calton Husband 7 Louie Kessell 10 Jason Meara 16 Tom Grimshaw 17 Luke Smith 32 Calum Mitchell 38 Gavin Stevenson 40 Jamie Wainwright 49 Callum Green 50 Martin Barr 82 Charlie Cole 91 Charlie Putnam 95 Dan Thornhill 101 Michael Ellis 119 Bailey Johnson 127 Sam Atkinson 134 Liam Knight 141 Tristan Purdon 147 Miro Sihvonen 151 Harri Kullas 162 Stuart Edmonds 166 Josh Taylor 184 Jamie Carpenter 277 Jay Hague 300 Ben Franklin 303 Jake Millward 365 Sam Nunn 422 Charlie Heyman 426 Conrad Mewes 579 Bobby Bruce 731 Alfie Jones Brad Todd 411 Shaun Mahoney 419 Joe Brooks Steven Clarke
