The UK’s top riders along with a smattering of overseas stars head to Lyng in Norfolk on Sunday for the second round of the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship supported by Pro Clean.
The old-school sand circuit at Cadders Hill is notoriously tough and will cut up rough as the day progresses, providing a serious test for the riders and their mechanics and for the first time in the history of the series there will be a ladies support class with the country’s fastest females in action.
MX1 should once again be a battle between former champions Shaun Simpson (RFX KTM powered by PAR Homes) and Tommy Searle (BOS Kawasaki) who took a race win each at the series opener at FatCat last month. The Scot has had the upper hand so far in the world championship and loves the soft stuff so Lyng will suit him but it’s by no means a done deal.
Local hero Lewis Tombs (Buildbase Honda) stepped up to MX1 at FatCat and rode out of his skin on the injured Jake Nicholls’ bike for his first-ever Maxxis podium finish and he’ll be out to show this wasn’t just a one-off. Elliott Banks-Browne (Geartec Husqvarna) also lives just a stone’s throw away and knows his way around the track as well as anyone.
So who else should we be looking out for? Estonian Harri Kullas (Cab Screens Deos Group Racing Honda) was on the pace at FatCat and is another sand-lover and what about 450 convert Jake Millward (Chambers Racing Husqvarna) who impressed everyone when he came home fourth overall?
In fact, there is no shortage of podium candidates with Ryan Houghton (RHR Yamaha), Brad Todd (Gabriel Insulation Yamaha), Gert Krestinov (Phoenix Tools Apico Kawasaki) and Mel Pocock (ASA United KTM) all likely to be in the mix and Jake Shipton (Crescent Yamaha) heads to Lyng in great form.
GP regulars dominated the MX2 class at FatCat with Bas Vaessen (Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee) and his team-mate Conrad Mewse trading wins and second-placed finishes and Alvin Ostlund (REVO Husqvarna UK) and his team-mate Dylan Walsh running third and fourth.
In the world championship it’s the Dutchman who currently has the advantage but it’s too close to call and if Walsh has recovered fully from his Valkenswaard crash expect him to be running up front. We saw last year when he won the opening race at Lyng on his Maxxis debut that he likes the track and he’s definitely got the tools to do the job.
Martin Barr (Crescent Yamaha) is also bound to fancy his chances and so will Josh Gilbert (Buildbase Honda) if he can stay on two wheels and Liam Knight (Verde Sports KTM) took a debut Maxxis podium at Hawkstone last year and will be looking for a repeat performance.
The Ladies class is also stacked with the country’s top women riders and, off the back of his double win at FatCat, Joel Rizzi (RFX KTM powered by PAR Homes) has to start favourite in the MX2 Youth class although there are some fast young men lining up behind him.
Picture © Imagerich Media
