AX World Tour electrifies BP Pulse Arena
By Team TMX on 6th Jan 25
News Arenacross Arenacross Tour
Over 5,000 enthusiastic fans braved the coldest day of the year to head to Birmingham’s BP Pulse Live Arena for the opening round of the ACU Arenacross British Championship and inaugural event in the all-new AX World Tour. And those who made the effort to support their heroes were rewarded with some fantastic racing wrapped up tightly in a fantastic show hosted by Matt Crowhurst with excellent – and incredibly insightful – race commentary coming courtesy of Billy MacKenzie and Jeff Perrett.
The familiar AX race format of four heats, head-to-heads and an LCQ led to the fastest 12 riders on the night lining up for a Main Event that would carry points for the World Tour and British Championship albeit scored separately.
After dominating the heats, Thomas Ramette (SR75 Suzuki) looked like the rider to beat. But after gating second behind an ultra-aggressive Jorge Zaragoza (Stark Future), Ramette washed out the front end on the landing of the finish line double and crashed hard – slamming face-first into the clay surface. Remounting at the back of the pack, it’d take Thomas all race to pull through to sixth.
Zaragoza, meanwhile, made a break for it and with Dean Wilson (Armor Vision St Blazey Honda) holding off Cedric Soubeyras (DRT Kawasaki) for two/thirds of the race it was enough for the 28-year-old Spaniard to claim victory with Soubs securing second ahead of Wilson. Frenchmen filled fourth through sixth with Adrien Escoffier (D.A.D APW KTM) leading home Yannis Irsuti (Mark McCann 64 YouTube) and Ramette.
Adam Chatfield (S Briggs Commercials Honda) ended the Main Event in seventh while securing the runner-up spot in the British Championship class with ninth-paced Eddie Wade (Stark Future) taking the final podium spot in the British series. It was a rough night for defending champion Jack Brunell (Stark Future) who crashed on lap one and could only recover to 11th (fifth Brit) with bodywork hanging off his electric machine.
That could have been more catastrophic except for a mid-race fall for 250F-mounted Tommy Searle (Dirt Store Triumph) and a no-show for Conrad Mewse (Crendon Tru7 Honda) who had tweaked his shoulder a few days before the event. However, those issues for the three fastest locals have given a huge head start to Dean Wilson who heads to round two in Wembley’s OVO Arena on January 18 with the lead in the British Championship.
To buy your tickets for the remaining rounds head to www.axworldtour.com.
