2023 Michelin MX Nationals Round Five Report and Results - Hawkstone Park
By Team TMX on 5th Sep 23
Crendon Fastrack Honda riders Conrad Mewse and Josh Gilbert came into the final round of the 2023 Michelin MX Nationals carrying minor injuries, but once again they finished first and second overall and in doing so filled the top two championship places with Mewse crowned this year's Pro MX1 champion, with Gilbert just 15 points behind in second and that’s after 10 hard-fought championship motos.
Things were even closer in the Pro MX2 championship race as in the last exciting race of the series, any one of four riders could have been champion. But, as the flag fell, Carlton Husband, on his Phoenix Tools Even Strokes Kawasaki, crossed the finish line as sixth MX2 rider home but he had done enough to be the 2023 Pro MX2 champion by just two points from Joe Brookes (GRT Impact KTM).
There was an air of excitement as the riders and teams started to arrive on Friday at the famous Hawkstone Park track in Shropshire, knowing all the championship classes would be decided. Still, it was also tinged with a bit of sadness as, after 10 years, this would be the Michelin MX Nationals’ final meeting in its present form.
Harri Kullas (CAB Screens Crescent Yamaha) got the holeshot at the start of the first combined Pro MX1 and MX2 race from Tristan Purdon (Gabriel SS24 KTM) and Gilbert, but by the end of the lap, Gilbert was in the lead from Mewse and Kullas was pushed back to third. Ivo Monticelli (ASA United GASGAS), meanwhile, moved up into fourth place at the expense of Purdon.
By the end of the second lap, Mewse was in the lead and from then on, he just revelled in the conditions and pulled further away from the rest of the pack, crossing the finish line very twenty-second clear. Gilbert and Kullas spent the rest of the race in second and third, with Purdon repassing a slowing Monticelli for fourth place.
Tom Grimshaw (Chambers GASGAS) had gated sixth and had passed the ailing Monticelli at about the halfway point but a simple mistake allowed Monticelli to repass him as the pair finished the race in fifth and sixth.
The young and talented Billy Askew (GTCI Revo Kawasaki) had already tied up the MXY2 championship on Saturday, so the team thought sending him out with the MX2 Pro class to gain some experience would be a good idea.
Now riding a KTM, Dylan Walsh was the first of the MX2 riders. He gated 10th but swiftly moved up to seventh place in four laps, with the young Askew following him through the pack to eighth place on lap four as he started to close in on the MX2 leader Walsh. Glenn McCormick (Chambers GASGAS) after gating 12th began to slip back into the pack with his championship chances going with him.
With four laps to go, Askew seemed to run out of steam as Walsh pulled away for the win, leaving Askew in a comfortable second place with Dylan Woodcock (Verde Shiloh KTM) third and series leader Husband 14th on the track but sixth in class.
All Mewse had to do to clinch the 2023 title was to finish in the top 10 in race two. It was that simple. But, as the start gate fell and Monticelli got the holeshot, Mewse tried to go around the outside of the pack and went down in the deep sand. He was almost last.
As Monticelli, Gilbert, Purdon, and Kullas powered away at the sharp end of the race, Mewse ended his first lap in 23rd place but was flying. By the time the race reached the halfway point, Mewse had slipped by both Purdon and Kullas and was in third and closing rapidly on the leading pair.
On lap nine, he passed Gilbert for second place, and two laps later, he passed Monticelli for the lead only to throw it away at the rocky top of the track and handed the lead and the race win back to Monticelli. He remounted and crossed the finish line in second place and was the championship winner. Gilbert was third, from Purdon and Kullas.
In the MX2 class, Walsh had gated eighth and was up amongst the 450s but he had Askew in his wheel tracks and with Husband just behind them.
For the next 10 laps, Askew dogged Walsh's every move as he got closer and closer until on lap nine, after making a couple of attempts to snatch the lead, Walsh sent a ‘welcome to adult racing’ message and dumped him over a berm and out of the race.
While all this was happening, Charlie Cole (Blade Bikes Kawasaki) crashed out of the championship race on lap three, with Husband staying out of trouble as he crossed the finish line in 15th place on the track but sixth in class, which was enough for him to become champion.
"We have had an awesome year. Not just me, but Josh Gilbert and the whole Crendon Fastrack Honda team," said the 2023 Pro MX1 champion and overall round winner, Mewse. "We came into this the last round just 10 points apart, so it really went down to the wire. It's been a perfect day today as I was fastest in qualifying and won the first race, but the second race wasn't so smooth. I went down at the start but came back through the pack well and got into the lead but dropped it again with a lap to go and finished second. I was a bit gutted to put all that effort in to finish second but I still won the overall and won the title. I have just got to do the same next week".
Second place on the day and second in the championship, Gilbert said when asked about his injury. “I haven’t ridden in the last three weeks as I had a silly little crash practising after Cusses. I put my hand out as I went down on one of the smallest little crashes. I thought that would be OK, and I will be back riding in a week or so. But I did try riding, and it wasn’t good at all. So, I rested it more and found out that I had a build-up of fluid on top of my wrist, and every time I tried to use it, it just put pressure on the joint. It took a bit of time to get that right. I rode a bit this last week, and it was a bit saw, but when the adrenalin got going, it was OK. But lack of bike time didn’t help and add to that the heat and how savage the track is, I hit a wall in the second race. I think it cost me the overall today.”
Monticelli, who was third overall and fifth in the championship, said, "It's been a tough year for me as I was injured at the start, and it's been a struggle to get back to my old speed. I have been working so hard to get back to the right feeling on the bike, but today, I got horrible arm pump in the first moto and couldn't ride like I wanted, and in the second moto, I was feeling better. I got a good start and felt good for the win, so I am very happy".
Overall, Pro MX2 winner Walsh said, “It’s the first time I have ridden sand in over a year, so it’s been quite tough to adapt. I knew I had the bike setting but I just had to do what I could do. We are making small gains every weekend but it's nice to be back racing." When asked about Billy Askew, Walsh added, "Billy rode awesome all day long, which is good for him and good for the British crowd. He has a bright future.”
Second Pro MX2 rider Heyman said, “I struggled with the starts today and made it harder for myself today. But I came through to fourth in the first race but dropped back a place before the flag because I was really tired because I think the heat got to me. I had a better start in the second race by holding wide open all around the outside of turn one. I got up to third, which I held to the end of the race, nice and smooth and up on the pegs. It was hard with the humid weather and a track as rough as it is. It’s been a good weekend made better by getting on the podium”.
Everyone's favourite, Woodcock, said from third overall, “I was wringing the neck of the two-stroke today and loving every minute of it. I have been enjoying racing this bike like nothing else before and if they want me back next year, I am up for it. I want to put a big push in and have some fun and I think people enjoy watching it to see a different bike out there and mix it up. It's good, and I loved it".
New Pro MX2 champion Husband said, "I have been doing the British nationals for some years now, so it's good to get it done finally. I don't know why this year is different, as I have been grafting from the start in the gym and on the tack. It took me a couple of years to get into the nationals, but a bit of luck can play a big part, as even a small crash can ruin your year.”
With three wins and a fourth place, James Dodd (FUS Marsh MX Husqvarna) won the Expert MX1 overall. Still, race one winner Richard Bird (Allmoto Megabikes Yamaha) did enough for second overall and took the championship win. Dodd had to settle for second in the championship, with Harry Bradley (JB Tuning Kawasaki) third in both.
Ben Mustoe (ASA United GASGAS), with two wins and two-second places, won the Expert MX2 overall from Josh Colman (Holeshot MX LRSMX KTM) and Tyler Westcott (HJA MC Planet Moto KTM). But the championship went to Ashley Greedy (Darjen Contractors GASGAS), who won both races on Saturday but didn't compete on the Sunday. Mustoe and Coleman were second and third in the championship.
The Amateur MX1 class was all about Luke Mellows (LM Kitchens Honda), as he won three out of his four races. He was second in the fourth and won the Amateur MX1 championship. Sean Wainwright (Fasteddy Racing Honda) was second in both, with Josh Greedy (Darjen Contractors Kawasaki) third.
Raife Broadley (723 Race Bikes Fantic) won in great style all four Amateur MX2 races and, with it, the championship. Dan Brough (Rutzz.co.uk Yamaha) was second overall and second in the championship, with Niall Cregan (Husqvarna) third with Ben Clark, who didn't race the weekend, third in the championship.
Daniel Chapman (Honda) won the closely fought Clubman MX1 class from Darren Manning-Coe (Fabrican KTM) and Alex Christopher (KTM), but in the final championship positions, the winner was Tallon Aspeden (LA Groundwork Fantic) from Manning-Coe and Billy Saunders (WMS Commercials Honda).
With three race wins and a second place, Matt Tolly (426 Motorsports KTM) won the Clubman MX2 class from Matt Pocock (MGP Steel KTM) and Aaron Framingham (Fabrican Racing KTM) while in the championship, Tolly won from Framingham and Pocock.
In the Youth MXY2 class, we had a new winner. Billy Askew (GTCI Revo Kawasaki) had won every championship race up until Saturday afternoon when he switched to the Pro MX2 class for the last two races of the year. This left Tyla Hooley (GASGAS) as the only other rider to win an MXY2 race this year – he took the overall from Bayliss Utting (Trell Contractors Honda) and Mckenzie Marshall (DK Offroad KTM). Utting was second to Askew in the final championship positions, with Marshall third.
Reece Jones (SJP Moto KTM) won all the MXY125 races and the championship, from Freddie Gardiner (MGMX KTM) and Westley McGavin (KTM). But in the championship, McGavin was second to Jones with Ollie Bubb (3 Flo Yamaha) third.
Josh Vail (SJP Moto KTM) continued his winning ways in the BW85s by winning all four of his races from Jamie Keith (MBR X&P KTM) and Charlie Richmond (KTM). They finished in the same order in the championship.
In the SW85s, Joel Winstanley-Dawson (Techsource Racing KTM) won the overall and the championship.
Results
Pro MX1
| 1 | Conrad Mewse | Crendon Fastrack Honda | 25 + 22 = 47 |
| 2 | Josh Gilbert | Crendon Fastrack Honda | 22 + 20 = 42 |
| 3 | Ivo Monticelli | ASA United GASGAS | 16 + 25 = 41 |
| 4 | Tristan Purdon | Gabriel SS24 KTM | 18 + 18 = 36 |
| 5 | Harri Kullas | Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha | 20 + 16 = 36 |
| 6 | Tom Grimshaw | Chambers GASGAS | 15 + 14 = 29 |
| 7 | Martin Barr | Apico Husqvarna | 14 + 13 = 27 |
| 8 | Jamie Carpenter | Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha | 11 + 15 = 26 |
| 9 | Liam Knight | Gabriel Holeshot KTM | 13 + 12 = 25 |
| 10 | Charlie Putnam | SC Sporthomes Husqvarna | 12 + 10 = 22 |
Final championship positions
1 Mewse 236, 2 Gilbert 221, 3 Kullas 198, 4 Grimshaw 145, 5 Monticelli 121.
Pro MX2
| 1 | Dylan Walsh | KTM | 25 + 25 = 50 |
| 2 | Charlie Hayman | Tru7 Honda | 16 + 20 = 36 |
| 3 | Dylan Woodcock | Verde Shiloh KTM | 20 + 16 = 36 |
| 4 | Joe Brooks | GRT Impact KTM | 12 + 18 = 30 |
| 5 | Carlton Husband | Phoenix Evenstrokes Kawasaki | 15 + 15 = 30 |
| 6 | Sam Nunn | Can Screens Crescent Yamaha | 14 + 14 = 28 |
| 7 | Jamie Wainwright | WPH SBE KTM | 13 + 12 = 25 |
| 8 | Joel Rizzi | Honda | 0 + 22 = 22 |
| 9 | Calum Mitchell | Lexa MX KTM | 9 + 13 = 22 |
| 10 | Glen McCormick | Chambers GASGAS | 11 + 11 = 22 |
Final championship positions
1 Husband 156, 2 Brooks 154, 3 Wainwright 152, 4 Mitchell 143, 5 Cole 142.
Expert MX1
| 1 | James Dodd | FUS Marsh MX Husqvarna | 18 + 25 + 25 + 25 = 93 |
| 2 | Richard Bird | Allmoto Megabikes Yamaha | 25 + 20 + 22 + 20 = 87 |
| 3 | Harry Bradley | JB Tuning Kawasaki | 20 + 18 + 15 + 22 = 75 |
| 4 | Declan Whittle | Lings GASGAS | 22 + 22 + 20 + 0 = 64 |
| 5 | Aiden Bruce | Shirlaws Motorcycles KTM | 16 + 13 + 18 + 14 = 61 |
| 6 | Sion Talbot | KTM | 15 + 16 + 12 + 16 = 59 |
| 7 | Josh Canton | Concept CCF KTM | 14 + 15 + 13 + 15 = 57 |
| 8 | Nathan Green | Russell’s GRT Honda | 0 + 14 + 16 + 18 = 48 |
| 9 | Aaron Patstone | Brenron GASGAS | 0 + 0 + 14 + 0 = 14 |
Final championship positions
1 Bird 336, 2 Dodd 330, 3 Talbot 262, 4 Bradley 243, 5 Canton 219.
Expert MX2
| 1 | Ben Mustoe | ASA United GASGAS | 22 + 22 + 25 + 25 = 94 |
| 2 | Josh Colman | Holeshot MX LRSMX KTM | 20 + 18 + 22 + 22 = 82 |
| 3 | Tyler Westcott | HJA MC, Planet Moto | 18 + 20 + 20 + 20 = 78 |
| 4 | Callum Murfitt | Southside MMX KTM | 15 + 14 + 18 + 15 = 62 |
| 5 | Patrick Jackson | KTM | 12 + 15 + 16 + 16 = 59 |
| 6 | Jordan McCaw | Husqvarna | 14 + 13 + 14 + 14 = 55 |
| 7 | Ashley Greedy | Darjen Contractors GASGAS | 25 + 25 + 0 + 0 = 50 |
| 8 | James Barker | Husqvarna | 13 + 16 + 0 + 18 = 47 |
| 9 | Luca Pegg | KTM | 0 + 12 + 15 + 13 = 40 |
| 10 | Mathew Bayliss | GASGAS | 16 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 16 |
Final championship positions
1 Greedy 344, 2 Mustoe 314, 3 Coleman 308, 4 Bayliss 274, 5 Murfitt 232.
Amateur MX1
| 1 | Luke Mellows | LM Kitchens Honda | 25 + 25 + 25 + 22 = 97 |
| 2 | Sean Wainwright | Fasteddy Racing Honda | 20 + 20 + 18 + 25 = 83 |
| 3 | Josh Greedy | Darjen Contractors Kawasaki | 22 + 22 + 12 + 18 = 74 |
| 4 | Joshua McCorkell | McCorkell Racing Husqvarna | 16 + 12 + 20 + 20 = 68 |
| 5 | Brad Thornhill | LMC Plant KTM | 18 + 18 + 15 + 16 = 67 |
| 6 | Daniel Maule | Kawasaki | 14 + 14 + 16 + 14 = 58 |
| 7 | Callum Gordon | MX Revive GASGAS | 15 + 15 + 13 + 13 = 56 |
| 8 | Lewis Taylor | Van Care Teebee MC KTM | 0 + 16 + 22 + 15 = 53 |
| 9 | Ryan Osborn | Evotech KTM | 13 + 13 + 14 + 12 = 52 |
| 10 | Jamie Dixon | P&S Auto Yamaha | 12 + 11 + 9 + 11 = 43 |
Final championship positions
1 Mellows 390, 2 Wainwright 355, 3 Greedy 351, 4 McCorkell 269, 5 Thornhill 266.
Amateur MX2
| 1 | Raife Broadley | 723 Race Bikes Fantic | 25 + 25 + 25 + 25 = 100 |
| 2 | Dan Brough | Rutzz.co.uk Yamaha | 22 + 22 + 20 + 22 = 86 |
| 3 | Niall Cregan | Husqvarna | 10 + 16 + 22 + 20 = 68 |
| 4 | Charlie Griffiths | KTM | 11 + 20 + 18 + 18 = 67 |
| 5 | Leon Ongley | 723 Fantic | 20 + 18 + 10 + 14 = 62 |
| 6 | David Plank | Yamaha | 18 + 14 + 15 + 12 = 59 |
| 7 | Tom Hughes | Tom Hughes Valeting KTM | 14 + 12 + 16 + 16 = 58 |
| 8 | Charlie Palmer | Apex GASGAS | 7 + 15 + 13 + 15 = 50 |
| 9 | Tommi Davies | KTM | 12 + 10 + 14 + 13 = 49 |
| 10 | Archie Hicks | FC Racing Team TM | 13 + 13 + 11 + 9 = 46 |
Final championship positions
1 Broadley 381, 2 Brough 298, 3 Clark 292. 4 Palmer 222, 5 Ongley 193.
Clubman MX1
| 1 | Daniel Chapman | Honda | 20 + 22 + 22 + 25 = 89 |
| 2 | Darren Manning-Coe | Fabrican KTM | 13 + 25 + 25 + 20 = 83 |
| 3 | Alex Christopher | KTM | 15 + 11 + 20 + 22 = 68 |
| 4 | Tallon Aspden | LA Groundwork KTM | 16 + 18 + 18 + 15 = 67 |
| 5 | Billy Saunders | WMS Commercials Honda | 18 + 14 + 15 + 13 = 60 |
| 6 | Josh Young | KTM | 22 + 20 + 0 + 16 = 58 |
| 7 | Paul Atkinson | Premier Bikes KTM | 12 + 16 + 13 + 12 = 53 |
| 8 | Kalen Hicks | British Army Husqvarna | 11 + 15 + 9 + 9 = 44 |
| 9 | Jude Gaylard | Wheeldon Off Road Honda | 0 + 13 + 12 + 14 = 39 |
| 10 | Ashley Senior | KTM | 5 + 12 + 8 + 11 = 36 |
Final championship positions
1 Aspden 360, 2 Manning-Coe 322, 3 Saunders 308, 4 Lane 222, 5 Chapman 209.
Clubman MX2
| 1 | Matt Tolley | 426 Motorsport KTM | 22 + 25 + 25 + 25 = 97 |
| 2 | Matt Pocock | MGP Steel Fantic | 18 + 20 + 18 + 20 = 76 |
| 3 | Aaron Framingham | Fabrican Racing KTM | 20 + 14 + 20 + 18 = 72 |
| 4 | Alex Hamer | KTM | 25 + 22 + 14 + 0 = 61 |
| 5 | Bradley Johnstone | Moto Connection Kawasaki | 15 + 18 + 15 + 4 = 52 |
| 6 | Richy Roberts | Rutzz Racing Yamaha | 12 + 13 + 11 + 15 = 51 |
| 7 | Jake O’Gorman | Fantic | 1 + 0 + 22 + 22 = 45 |
| 8 | Mitchel Collins | 723 Racebikes Fantic | 7 + 16 + 16 + 5 = 44 |
| 9 | Jack Ratcliffe | PR Building KTM | 8 + 10 + 12 + 10 = 40 |
| 10 | Max Fletcher | Mumzie Kawasaki | 13 + 3 + 7 + 16 = 39 |
Final championship positions
1 Tolley 395, 2 Framingham 303, 3 Pocock 299, 4 Johnstone 255, 5 West 203.
MXY2
| 1 | Tyla Hooley | GASGAS | 22 + 20 + 25 + 25 = 92 |
| 2 | Bayliss Utting | Trell Contractors Honda | 20 + 18 + 22 + 22 = 82 |
| 3 | Mckenzie Marshall | DK Offroad KTM | 18 + 12 + 18 + 20 = 68 |
| 4 | Bernerdo Tiburcio | KTM | 0 + 22 + 20 + 18 = 60 |
| 5 | Harrison Greenough | KTM | 14 + 7 + 16 + 16 = 53 |
| 6 | Billy Askew | GTCI Revo Kawasaki | 25 + 25 + 0 + 0 = 50 |
| 7 | Lee Cameron | Dyce Carrier KTM | 10 + 8 + 14 + 15 = 47 |
| 8 | Liam Bennett | Apico GMR Husqvarna | 16 + 13 + 15 + 0 = 44 |
| 9 | Kayde Rayns | Scott Motorsport Yamaha | 12 + 5 + 12 + 14 = 43 |
| 10 | Seth Manners | Chambers GASGAS | 13 + 16 + 13 + 0 = 42 |
Final championship positions
1 Askew 400, 2 Utting 330, 3 Marshall 299, 4 Taylor 251, 5 Bennett 250.
MXY125
| 1 | Reece Jones | SJP Husqvarna | 25 + 25 + 25 + 25 = 100 |
| 2 | Freddie Gardiner | MGMX KTM | 22 + 22 + 22 + 22 = 88 |
| 3 | Wesley McGavin | KTM | 20 + 15 + 20 + 20 = 75 |
| 4 | Ollie Bubb | 3 Flo Yamaha | 16 + 18 + 14 + 16 = 64 |
| 5 | Lucy Barker | KTM | 15 + 16 + 18 + 13 = 62 |
| 6 | Jack Meara | Honda | 12 + 12 + 15 + 18 = 57 |
| 7 | Declan Wright | Webster Mechanical KTM | 14 + 14 + 8 + 14 = 50 |
| 8 | Max Corke | KTM | 11 + 13 + 16 + 10 = 50 |
| 9 | Cody Spacagna | Trevor Pope KTM | 9 + 11 + 13 + 12 = 45 |
| 10 | Will Haddock | KTM | 13 + 0 + 12 + 15 = 40 |
Final championship positions
1 Jones 345, 2 McGavin 315, 3 Bubb 262, 4 Hyde 252, 5 Meara 199.
BW85
| 1 | Josh Vail | SJP Moto KTM | 25 + 25 + 25 + 25 = 100 |
| 2 | Jamie Keith | MBR X&P KTM | 22 + 22 + 22 + 22 = 88 |
| 3 | Charlie Richmond | KTM | 20 + 20 + 20 + 20 = 80 |
| 4 | Drew Stock | Madison Mad 4 KTM | 18 + 18 + 18 + 18 = 72 |
| 5 | Finlay Pickering | Mr T’s Racing KTM | 16 + 16 + 15 + 15 = 62 |
| 6 | Lewis Spratt | KTM | 13 + 14 + 14 + 14 = 55 |
| 7 | Blake Ward-Clarke | GRT Impact KTM | 14 + 13 + 13 + 13 = 53 |
| 8 | Hayden Statt | Manchester MC KTM | 10 + 9 + 16 + 16 = 51 |
| 9 | Alfie Geddes-Green | Matt Pope MC GASGAS | 12 + 15 + 9 + 11 = 47 |
| 10 | Austin Beasty | Custom MX Husqvarna | 15 + 10 + 12 + 10 = 47 |
Final championship positions
1 Vail 428, 2 Keith 392, 3 Richmond 372, 4 Ward-Clarke 251, 5 Spratt 241.
SW85
| 1 | Joel Winstanley-Dawson | Techsource Racing KTM | 25 + 20 + 25 + 22 = 92 |
| 2 | Lucas Lee | Husqvarna | 22 + 25 + 20 + 18 = 85 |
| 3 | Leo Wilson | KTM | 20 + 22 + 15 + 25 = 82 |
| 4 | Harvey Collins | HRC Scaffolding KTM | 18 + 18 + 22 + 20 = 78 |
| 5 | Chad Prince | SC Sporthomes Husqvarna | 16 + 15 + 18 + 15 = 64 |
| 6 | Riley Butterworth | KTM | 15 + 16 + 16 + 16 = 63 |
Final championship positions
1 Winstanley-Dawson 424, 2 Lee 388, 3 Prince 217, 4 Moore 172, 5 Wilson 82.
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