Devon's MMX factor
By TMX Archives on 20th Feb 08
THE long winter wait is now over and the British motocross season gets under way this weekend at Little Silver Motocross Parc, near Exminster, Devon, with the opening round of the MMX Championship. The new-look MMX Championship kicks off with the new Open class, a modification of the old four-stroke series but with the entry having been opened up to two or four-stroke machines up to 650cc.
The class now caters for 60 competitors with the fastest 40 from qualifying going through to the main races in the afternoon so the 20-minute timed session will no doubt be fast and furious.
This will be the first opportunity to see some of the nation's top riders competing in their new 2008 team colours and we will see Wayne Smith, now on a Pioneer Emberson Yamaha, back to defend the Four-stroke crown that he won in 2007.
Last season saw MotoXtreme Kawasaki-mounted Mark Hucklebridge having to make up for lost ground and he will be out to make a strong start in the class this time out.
These two won't have things all their own way, however, with the likes of the Twisted 7 Kawasaki duo Bryan MacKenzie and Richard Lawson on the start line.
Relentless Suzuki MX new boy Scott Probert will also be competing on a 250F alongside team-mate Jamie Law who is coming back after a pre season injury aboard the new EFI Suzuki RM-Z 450.
After a strong 2007 season in the Four-stroke class, with a number of podium finishes, Wiseco Honda's Danny Smyth will be looking to continue his run of form, while last year's Under-21 champ Ray Rowson has made the jump to the 450 machine for the PAR Racing Honda squad and will certainly be one to watch out for.
The ever-competitive PAR Homes backed Under-21 class will hit the track for the first time too with the entry having been opened up to 60 entries also, and with no champion around to defend the title the race will be on for the prestige of being crowned the new champion at the end of the year.
This year will see a big influx of riders from the BYMX championship and PAR Honda rider Ashley Greedy will feel like the old boy of the class at just 17.
For full story, see T+MX NEWS, Friday, February 22, 2008