MX Diary: Maxxis takes a Leuch up north
By Team TMX on 20th Jan 16
Round five of this years Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship will be staged north of the border at Leuchars on July 3.
The event, promoted by Weston Beach Race organiser RHL Activities, will be a home round for defending MX1 champion Shaun Simpson whose Scottish base is just a few miles away.
"Leuchars is about 10 minutes from where I live so it's one of the tracks that I grew up on,” said Shaun.
"I did a lot of the laps of my schoolboy career around there and I had my first ever schoolboy British championship win there in 2001.
"It's been a long time coming. I am really positive that the Maxxis have decided to come up north of the border and give it a proper go again. I think Leuchars is the place to do it at as it is the centre of motocross in Scotland.
"Having a round in Scotland is absolutely excellent for Scottish riders and for Scottish fans in general.
"I think doing that will definitely revive Scottish motocross and I can't wait to head home and promote the event and get everyone buzzing and excited to come back year after year.
"If they do it well it should be a permanent fixture on the British calendar.”
RHL Activities' Gareth Hockey is looking forward to staging the event.
"It's been quite a while since RHL Activities has promoted a Maxxis British Motocross Championship,” said Gareth, "the last time being at Pontrilas in 2007.
Refresh
"The team are really looking forward to working with Glenrothes MSC at the fantastic venue. It's going to be an incredible race weekend.”
A programme of track improvements is planned to refresh the circuit and bring it up to Maxxis standard.
"I think they are going to go in there and revamp it which is really exciting because I think it has potential to be an amazing venue,” added Shaun.
"It's black sand which is cool but it's just tired right now because it has not had any proper work done to it for a good number of years.
"If they come in and sort it out then we are looking at possibly one of the best British motocross championship events that we could have.”
ACU Events Championship Manager Stuart Drummond sees the importance of having a local hero involved at the planning stage.
"Shaun's input is valuable to us as is his enthusiasm about the event,” he said. "He is always encouraging and positive about the prospect of returning to Scotland and what it can do for motocross in general.
"I look forward to working with him and the RHL Team, it's always nice to involve the riders and especially one of his calibre.
"I do believe in the venue and, like Shaun said, I think it has a lot of potential to be a fantastic meeting and we will be working with the promoters, RHL Activities, to get the track up to scratch and put it to the standard we require.”
