Desertmartin Preview: British Motocross Championship
By Team TMX on 28th Jun 19
British Motocross Championship Desertmartin
The Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship supported by Pro Clean sets sail across the Irish Sea this weekend for its now traditional date at Desertmartin in Northern Ireland on Sunday and its super-tight at the top in both the MX1 and MX2 title fights.
The huge first-race, first-turn pile-up in MX1 last time out at Blaxhall thats sidelined Ryan Houghton (RHR Yamaha) also left red plate holder Shaun Simpson (RFX KTM powered by PAR Homes) with a broken hand thats forced him out of the last three GPs.
The Scot bravely ground out 7-4 finishes in an exercise in damage limitation but its Tommy Searle (BOS Kawasaki) who also went down hard in the crash who now leads by five points.
Simpson will be back this Sunday and shouldnt be too race rusty after his enforced absence so, as long as his hand is sufficiently healed, expect him and Searle to recommence their fight at the front.
This will be the fourth consecutive year that the Maxxis series has visited the spectacular sweeping sandy circuit and theres no shortage of podium contenders who relish the soft stuff queuing up behind Searle and Simpson.
Gert Krestinov (Phoenix Tools Apico Kawasaki) sits a distant third in the points table and is coming under increasing pressure from Jake Millward (Chambers Racing Husqvarna) whose form on a 450 this season after making the switch from MX2 has been a revelation.
Other possible podium contenders include Brad Anderson (Verde Substance KTM) although hell have his work cut out on the 250cc two-stroke along with Jake Shipton (Crescent Yamaha), Mel Pocock (ASA United KTM) and Lewis Tombs (Buildbase Honda) if hes sufficiently recovered from the broken hand he sustained at Blaxhall.
Sadly, Harri Kullas (Cab Screens Deos Group Racing Honda) is out after injuring his shoulder training on a mountain bike but Elliott Banks-Browne (Geartec Husqvarna) will be in action at a Maxxis round for the first time this year.
While its tight at the top of MX1 its even tighter in MX2 with just seven points covering the leading three riders. Dylan Walsh (REVO Husqvarna UK) did enough to take the red plate from his team-mate Alvin Ostlund at Blaxhall as a career-first overall win moved Josh Gilbert (Buildbase Honda) into second, one point behind the Kiwi.
Its a fascinating contest between the two GP regulars and EMX250 competitor Gilbert and its too close to call. Walsh and Ostlund will be making their first visits to Desertmartin which in theory should give Gilbert an advantage although the REVO riders havent had too many problems learning new tracks this season.
With defending champion Conrad Mewse (Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee) still sidelined, his team-mate Bas Vaessen is definitely a rider to watch.
The Dutchman has been flying in the world championship and heads into his teams home round full of confidence and you also cant count out local hero Martin Barr (Crescent Yamaha).
Desertmartin is situated off Rectory Road south of Tobermore near Magherafelt.
Postcode is BT45 5QW. Admission prices are 20 for adults and 5 for children aged five to 15 with a family ticket available at 45. Practice starts at 9am.
More like this…
Shaun Simpson Desertmartin double DNF
Simpson was fastest in qualifying at Desertmartin and was also leading both motos on the fantastic Northern Ireland sand circuit...then two DNFs.
Two-stroke back big for 2020 British Motocross Championship
Two-stroke is making a big return to the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship it has been revealed today.
2020 ACU British Ladies Motocross Championship announced
The ACU Motocross Committee are pleased to announce that following the well supported Ladies Class that ran alongside the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship at Lyng in April, an ACU British Championship will take place in 2020.