Head for the Heights
By TMX Archives on 25th Mar 10
THE opening round of the 2010 ACU Maxxis British sidecarcross championships will be held this coming weekend March 28 at the spectacular Canada Heights circuit near Swanley in Kent. Although the long cold winter had delayed the Sidcup club starting work on track preparation recent fine dry weather has meant they have been able to catch up and the track is reported to be in prime condition.
Despite a number of sidecar crews retiring at the end of 2009 the maximum number of 30 crews have registered for the series and for this event there are a couple of wild cards as well.
Leading the entry are current champions Stuart Brown/ Luke Peters who will be going flat out to retain the title. This year they will be using the same Husaberg motors that they used so successfully last year but now mounted in a MEFO chassis supplied by the veteran German driver Willi Liebl. If they succeed in winning the championship it will be win number eight for Stuart and number six for Luke. They have already raced against top world class riders in the first two rounds of the Dutch championship and should be well prepared for the demanding Canada Heights circuit.
Hoping to dislodge the current champions are the West Country brothers Daniel and Joe Millard. They are also using Husaberg motors but they too have changed chassis and will be using a WHT supplied from Holland. They too have been riding in Holland and are raring to go.
Last seasons AMCA winning team, Steven France/ Lee Machin, have swapped codes for this year and are intending to mix it with the best in the ACU. Returning after retirement' in 2009 is the Portsmouth driver Scott Wilkinson now passengered by the vastly experienced David Keane. If they can stay free of injuries they are very capable of challenging the leaders.
Also intending to make their presence felt are a number of young teams headed by Richard Jenkins now passengered by Peter Girling.Others to watch out for are Josh and Dan Chamberlain, Brett Wilkinson/ Ross Parmenter, Stickle Jarvis/ Ryan Humphries and finally Alf Hyde/ Craig Parmenter.
Finally the Dutch crew of Thijs and Roy Derks will possibly be coming over. They are no strangers to the British championship having competed over a number of years finishing ninth in 2007.
The meeting will also feature a strong Pro Solo class including riders of the calibre of Scott Elderfield, Dorren Coutts, Mark Eastwood, Davie Willett and Danny Arnold. The Sidcup club along with Maxxis and MXbits.com have put up a prize fund of 2790 with the top Pro rider on the right coloured bike the chance to take home over 1000. The meeting kicks off with practise at 9am and racing at 10.45. Canada Heights entry is 10 and offers ample free onsite parking, food wagons, trade stands and of course plenty of loos.
The circuit is at Button Street, Swanley, at the A20 junction on the M25, where it will be well sign posted.