MX Diary: Maxxis heads to Hawkstone
By Sean Lawless on 10th May 17
British Motocross Championship
After just a weekend off the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship supported by Pro Clean fires back into action this Sunday (May 14) with round four at the legendary Hawkstone Park.
Whether it's wet or dry, Hawkstone Park has earned a reputation for providing a super-tough, technical test for riders and bikes with the energy-sapping deep sand cutting up rough to present countless lines.
The Salop club has brought in an additional 600 tons of soil to ensure the circuit is in prime condition for the six-race programme featuring MX1, MX2 and Two-stroke classes.
With three rounds down the fight in MX1 is as fierce as always with French favourite Steven Lenoir (Hobbs Racing Kawasaki) just having the edge over Irishman Graeme Irwin (Buildbase Honda) and Estonia's Gert Krestinov (Phoenix Tools Honda Racing). Only nine points separate the top three riders so there's all to play for this weekend.
Two-time champ Brad Anderson (Verde Sports Racing KTM) sits fourth but is already 21 points off the leader's pace with Jake Nicholls (Hitachi KTM UK) fifth but out of the running with injury.
After his second overall last time out at Canada Heights, Elliott Banks-Browne (Geartec Husqvarna) is currently sixth and will be aiming to carry his new-found momentum into Hawkstone Park.
The MX2 division is almost as close with Ben Watson (Hitachi KTM UK) a super-slender three points ahead of Estonian Harri Kullas (MVR-D Route 77 Husqvarna).
Kullas has won the last two overalls and could move ahead this weekend but both riders will have to contend with Martin Barr (Buildbase Honda) and Mel Pocock (REVO Husqvarna UK) who are tied for third and also an on-form Josiah Natzke (Hitachi KTM UK) fresh from his EMX250 victory last weekend.
Lewis Tombs (Lings Husqvarna) holds fifth in the table, 53 points off the lead and just eight points ahead of Todd Kellett (St Blazey/SJ Hodder Husqvarna) who also had a good result in EMX250 in Latvia.
Sunday will see the second round of the hotly-anticipated ACU British Two-stroke Championship.
After the opening round at Canada Heights it's tall Dutchman Mike Kras (GLto12 Racing KTM) who leads from speedy South African Nev Bradshaw (DB Racing Honda) – who's racing a 2002 CR250 – and Lewis Trickett (ASA Scaffolding Honda).
Kras' new team-mate James Dunn will be making his series debut on Sunday so expect fireworks at the front.
Practice gets under way at 9am with the first race at 11.55am. Admission is £20 for adults and £5 for children with family tickets priced at £45.
Hawkstone Park is situated just north of Shrewsbury and will be signposted off the A53 and A49. Postcode is SY4 4NA.
