FatCat scorcher: Who to watch out for as MXGB heats up

By Anthony Sutton on 8th Jul 22

The Revo ACU British Motocross Championship Fuelled by Gulf Race Fuels heads to Yorkshire for round six and seven come to think of it but thats a different story for a different time. This weekend its headed to FatCat Motoparc for whats bound to be a gruelling weekend in the office for the athletes in the Youth 65cc, SW85, BW85, 125cc and 250cc classes wholl be joined by the MX1 and MX2 elite pro riders on Sunday.

FatCat offers up a very different challenge to most circuits in the series as the high-speed layout gets ridiculously rough thanks to the vein of sand that the facility is built on. Never intended to be a sand circuit at all, as the track was built, Martin Craven and the FatCat team discovered a bottomless layer of sand around a metre underneath the topsoil and dug down to create what we have today whats arguably the most demanding sand circuit in the UK that rivals anything to be found in Holland or Belgium.

With that in mind, its not uncommon for FatCat to chuck out some odd results that deviate from the formbook. The opening round of another national series that cannot be named here demonstrated that to the max with SC Sportshomes Husqvarnas Josh Gilbert absolutely destroying a pro line-up that included pretty much everyone wholl be in action this weekend.

Can he repeat that performance? Possibly so but hell have his hands full with a back-to-full fitness Shaun Simpson (SS24 KTM), Harri Kullas (CAB Screens Crescent Yamaha) and series leader Tommy Searle who had a nightmare here earlier in the year but is sure to be better prepared this time around Crendon Fastrack Honda team boss Dave Thorpe wouldnt have it any other way.

Brad Todd

Gabriel KTMs Brad Todd, who is flying at the moment, and tenacious Scot John Adamson (ASA United GASGAS). Todds teammate Liam Knight is also worth a mention as hes an excellent sand rider as is Phoenix Evenstrokes Kawasaki runner Petar Petrov who has based himself in Lommel for much of his career.

As things stand, Searle leads the championship on 183 points with Kullas 13 behind, Simpson 15 behind Harri and Gilbert seven in arrears of Simpson. We could well see a shuffle of those placings on Sunday.

We may also see a swing in the MX2 championship as current series leader Isak Gifting hurt his knee at Blaxhall and was forced to miss the Indonesian GP, and is confirmed out for the rest of the season.

https://www.tmxnews.co.uk/news/motocross/british-motocross-championship/fatcat-isak-giftings-injury-blow-out-for-remainder-of-season/

With Gifting a no-show then that leaves the door wide open for Conrad Mewse to grab the red plate. The 426 Motorsports/Stebbings KTM rider is currently just seven points behind Gifting in the championship chase and its hard to imagine anyone bar Giftings Dutch teammate Kay Karssemakers from challenging him on current form.

James Carpenter

As things stand James Carpenter (GRT Impact KTM) sits third in the series, 33 points behind Gifting (26 behind Mewse) and just five ahead of Tom Grimshaw (Chambers Racing). Carpenter topped the MX2 podium at the MX Nationals season opener with a maximum scorecard so maybe one to challenge the GP runners.

Considering the unique challenge that FatCat offers, Jamie Law could well be the danger man on his 250cc two-stroke Apico Husqvarna. Law has been solid in the sand so far this season and really uses the advantages a two-stroke has to offer to his advantage while working around the negatives. Look for the Cumbrian veteran to land on the podium.

https://www.tmxnews.co.uk/news/motocross/british-motocross-championship/how-to-watch-fatcat-mxgb-for-free-live-streaming-details/

Multi-time Weston Beach Race champion Todd Kellett will also line-up in MX2 on a 250cc smoker. He will be quick for sure and fitness shouldnt be an issue.

The youth classes will race on Saturday and Sunday at FatCat with all divisions in action.

The 65s have only ridden one round so far this season at Culham in March where Marty Spires took the overall with a 1-2-2 scorecard. In all fairness, Casey Lister was perhaps the stronger rider that weekend but an opening moto fall cost him dearly with an 11th-place finish. He backed that up with two wins but the damage was already done.

A lot has happened since then so the season opener perhaps isnt the best form guide for this weekend at FatCat. One thing is for sure though and thats these smallest of competitors will be putting in mighty performances.

The SW85s have also had limited track time this season albeit twice as much as the 65cc group. Robbie Daly has been outstanding in this division across all championships hes lined up in and in the case of the Revo-backed series has won four out of five motos and sits on a 23-point lead over Hayden Statt with Alfie Geddes-Green and Blake Ward-Clarke also in the mix.

Billy Askew has been in great form on the track this year and sits on a 25-point lead over Jake Walker who has surprised many with his improved results in 2023. The BW85 class is one of the most talent-packed with any of the top 10 capable of putting themselves on the podium this weekend even though only Askew, Walker and Josh Vail have managed it so far.

Charlie Heyman

SJP Motos Charlie Heyman has been the top dog in the 125cc class so far this season and leads the championship by a good way although Joe Brookes (GRT Impact KTM) is closing ground fast and has taken the overall win the last two times out. Separating them in the series standings is Brookes teammate Ollie Colmer who is also a moto winner this year. Cole McCullough (Hitachi KTM Fuelled by Milwaukee) is yet to cross the line first but took the overall at Lyng with a 2-2 scorecard.

Picking a winner for FatCat isnt easy but its worth noting that Heyman topped Colmer and McCullough there earlier in the season can he repeat that victory this time around? Well see

The 250cc Youth class has been dominated by Tyler Westcott so far this season and hes won all four rounds and seven out of 10 motos on his HJA Motorcycles/PlanetMoto Holidays machine. Team Green runners Jak Taylor and Hudson Roper are Westcotts closest challengers in the class but are a fair way back in the points chase. The potential for wildcards to enter the mix is very real however RHL Activities hasnt released the final entry lists just yet keep an eye on their website for those when theyre made available.

FatCat Motoparc can be found just yards away from Junction 4 of the M18 motorway in South Yorkshire to the East of Doncaster. The postcode is DN3 3EH. As well as being easily accessible, theres plenty of flat parking and the viewing is great especially from the grassy knoll that surrounds the technical sand circuit.

Ticket Info!

Weekend

Adult 35

Child (4-12) 5

Family (two adults, two children) 75

Saturday Only

Adult 10

Child (4-12) 5

Family (two adults, two children) 20

Sunday Only

Adult 25

Child (4-12) 5

Family (two adults, two children) 55

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