Anstie leads Brits into MXGP battle
By Sean Lawless on 15th Jun 16
World championship motocross returns to the UK this weekend with the MXGP of Great Britain at Matterley Basin.
As always there's a big turn-out of British wildcard riders joining the GP regulars, all hoping to stage some home-turf heroics around the sweeping Hampshire track.
The premier MXGP class features nine Brits going for glory although, surprisingly, there are no UK-based wildcards in MX2 listed in the starting line-up.
Highest-placed British rider in MXGP is Shaun Simpson who sits seventh in the standings but a broken hand forced the Scot to sit out the last round in France and he was still clearly in pain at Desertmartin on Sunday. His best result at Matterley came last year when he finished sixth.
Of the six GPs run at the track the only time a Brit has taken an overall win was in 2012 when Tommy Searle came out on top in MX2. His best results in MX1/MXGP have been a pair of fifths in 2013 and 2014, tying Brad Anderson – who was fifth in 2011 – for the best big bike result by a home rider.
Searle, who's 11th in this year's championship, missed the 2015 event and so far in 2016 has struggled with injuries and mechanical issues.
Jake Nicholls came within a point of victory in MX2 in 2013. Another rider who's suffered more than his fair share of injuries, Nicholls is on a high after his overall MX1 win at Desertmartin.
"I like Matterley Basin and I've been picking up my form at bit at GPs anyway,” he said. "I really like coming back to the British championship because it seems to give me a bit of a confidence boost – especially now I've won one – so I can go into the GP with a clear head.
"It being my home GP makes it extra nice and the track's really good as well. I'm looking forward to it.”
Of the four Brits in MX2 the most realistic hope of a podium is Max Anstie. Consistency has been a problem this season for the rider who lives just down the road from the circuit but seven race podiums so far in 2016 – including a race-two second last time out in France – are a true indication of his speed.
"I'm happy with my performance in the second race and we can now go from there,” he said. "It's a shame we've been a bit inconsistent but this second race was really good. We now head to my home GP and I'm looking forward to going back to Matterley Basin.”
Anstie will be joined by James Dunn, Conrad Mewse and Adam Sterry in MX2 but Mel Pocock will be absent after injuring his left hand and ribs on Sunday.
British riders pack the supporting EMX classes and Anderson, a double winner in the 300cc two-stroke class in Spain, is another genuine podium threat.
