2025 Motul British Motocross Championship Rd1 preview
By Image: Elliot Spencer on 24th Mar 25
News Motocross British Motocross Championship
There’s a real treat for all mums on Mother’s Day this year as the all-new Motul ACU British Motocross Championship fires into life at Hawkstone Park in Shropshire on Sunday, March 30.
The championship is under new management for 2025 and promises to be more streamlined and exciting than previously with fewer classes, the return of qualifying and a free-to-view live stream that is set to increase the reach of the series and its athletes like never before. All in all, it seems like an incredibly positive step for British motocross with riders, fans and pit pundits stoked for the season ahead.
Each of the series eight rounds will cater for MX1, MX2 and 125cc classes. The 125cc class follows EMX125 age limit rules (13-to-17), MX2 includes a JMR Foundation-supported Under21 class while MX1 is fairly standard stuff. But at the end of it all, four British Champions will be crowned.
On current form, you’d have to expect that Crendon Tru7 Honda’s Conrad Mewse will dominate the Apico MX1 class. In 2024, he and eventual champion Jeffrey Herlings often gapped the third-placed rider by over a minute, and you would think that Conrad would have that expectation of himself going into Hawkstone Park this time around. Of course, this is motocross and there are no guarantees and there is a long list of riders who’d like to take the fight to Conrad.
Lexa MX’s Josh Gilbert has a couple of MXGP rounds under his belt and is riding well – Chambers Racing KTM’s Adam Sterry is in a similar position. Tristan Purdon (SC Sporthomes Husqvarna) has competed in the Scottish and NPC Championship rounds and finished second behind Mewse on both occasions. We should expect Conrad’s own teammate Jamie Carpenter to be in the hunt for podiums and let’s not forget lofty Cumbrian loft specialist Brad Todd (DK Offroad powered by Bikesport Newcastle Honda) who is not short on pace, fitness or enthusiasm.
Apico Honda’s Martin Barr ought to be at the sharp end too, Joel Rizzi (Dirtstore Triumph) will be looking to leave his mark on MX1 after challenging for the MX2 title in 2024, Taylor Hammal (Bike It Kawasaki) has plenty of pace and Jason Meara (Moto-Cycle GASGAS) should feel the benefits of being a full-time pro in 2025.
The MX2 class looks like being a battle between the highly experienced Tommy Searle (Dirt Store Triumph) and a whole heap of hungry young guns who would like nothing more than to top the podium at the end of the season. Searle’s teammate Billy Askew should be a challenger to win as will Gabriel SS24 KTM paring Gyan Doensen and Max Werner. SC Sporthomes Husqvarna’s Charlie Heyman has been hoovering up big prize money in the Scottish and NPC series, the latter of which saw Ben Mustoe going well on the ASA United GASGAS.
DRT Kawasaki’s Bobby Bruce should be up in the mix, Chambers Racing run Glenn McCormick and Ollie Colmer, Josh Vail and Charlie Cole represent Phoenix Tools Fantic and Florian Miot lines up in MX2 for SAS TPC KTM. Privateers Joe Brookes, James Barker and Max Harris have the pace to run in the top 10 as do Dixon Honda’s Gavin Stevenson and Callum Mitchel (Worx Total Triumph) who was outstanding at the Hawkstone International.
The RaceFX 125cc class could well provide some of the closest racing on the day and will definitely be the sweetest smelling and sounding. Pre-season favourite Jamie Keith (JK Yamaha) broke a collarbone at the opening round of the EMX125 series in Spain two weekends ago which could open things up. Charlie Richmond, Drew Stock and Hayden Statt will be looking to stick their Yamahas at the front of the field while Freddie Gardiner will no doubt challenge on his GASGAS. Other fast lads to look out for are Ryan Waggott, Harry Lee, Zane Stephens, Alfie Geddes-Green and Blake Ward-Clarke plus all those we’ve motivated by not giving them a mention.
The action kicks off at 8:30 on Sunday morning with Practice and Qualifying for the 125cc class, followed by MX2 Group A, then Group B and finally MX1. The MX2 LCQ will be the first race of the day at 11:20 – the 12-minute sprint adding the final four qualifiers to the 40-strong MX2 lineup. Expect fireworks in this one as the fifth-placed rider and behind will be done for the day!
Championship action kicks off at 12:30 with the opening 20-minute race for the 125 class, MX2 race one starts at 13:15 with MX1 leaving the line at 14:05. A break for track prep follows with the final races for each class running in the same order starting at 14:55, 15:40 and 16:30. Podium celebrations follow at 17:30, presumably after the top finishers have finished their Dirt Store MXGB-TV live stream interviews.
More information at mxgb.co.uk with full entry lists published on Wednesday, March 26. Hawkstone Park is situated around 12 miles north of Shrewsbury and will be signposted from the A49 and A53. The post code is SY4 4NA.
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