Feature: Clayton's aiming high
By Jason Bellinger on 16th Mar 16
Now the dust has finally settled on the Monster Energy Arenacross Tour, we managed to catch up with AX superteen Joe Clayton. The eighteen-year-old was pretty much a class apart in the Pro Lites championship and then, having earned his stripes, went on to participate in the Pro group for the last two rounds.
An on-fire Clayton set out his stall right from the very start back in January at the Manchester Arena opener, when he cleaned up in ProLites practice, a set of qualifications, and then the two point-scoring motos. With the exception of round three at Glasgow, when George Clarke took a race win and the overall, the amiable Devonshire lad was never bettered.
In the final analysis, given that each rider dropped his worst round, Clayton powered his 250cc Husqvarna to 19 of 20 race wins and nine of ten rounds, wrapping up the ProLites championship at the penultimate leg of the tour at Sheffield.
With the ProLites virtually done and dusted, Clayton surprised everyone, not least his mum Lou, when he announced his participation in the Pro Class, riding with the MVR-D Husqvarna team, with support from St Blazey Motorcycles.
Clearly unfazed about his move up to the bigger class, even though he was pitting his 250 bike against the bigger 450s – and joining what has widely been acknowledged as one of the most competitive and talented line up of Pro riders to date – a grinning Clayton said; "It's a slick start here at Sheffield, so I think the 250 will be fine and it'll make a change to be down the field a little – well to start with anyway!”
He went on to hold his own amongst the professionals, with mid-field heat finishes and Last Chance Qualifying places of fifth and sixth, while at the same time contesting his own class, which maintained its ultra-competitive edge right up until the last chequered flag fell.
We reckon Clayton is a name to watch...
TMX: What do you do when not racing?
JC: I like to go on the Mini-bikes and trials bikes, eat and sleep.
TMX: Tell us a little of your background, when you started racing.
JC: I first started riding a bike when I was nine. And then when I was 11 I did my first race as a birthday present.
TMX: Sponsors?
JC: Wheeldon Off-road Centre and St Blazey Motorcycles
TMX: Which championships have you contested?
JC: I used to do the Red Bull Pro Nationals and more recently the Arenacross UK Series.
TMX: What has been your biggest achievement so far in your career?
JC: Winning the 2016 Arenacross UK ProLites championship.
TMX: What has been your worst moment in your career?
JC: I don't really know what my worst moment is but injuries are very annoying because it means I can't ride.
TMX: Any injuries?
JC: Yes I've had a couple.
TMX: How much time do you spend training and where?
JC: In the winter I spend a lot of time training and riding at Wheeldon Offroad Centre.
TMX: What are your plans for 2016 in terms of racing?
JC: We aren't a hundred per cent sure, but my plans are to go to France and race the French SX and also, hopefully, do the same in Italy. But in the meantime I will do some local outdoor and a couple of national events in this country.
TMX: If you compete outdoor, how difficult is it to switch from indoor to outdoor?
JC: When you go outdoors it's a shock at how fast some corners are compared to the indoors ones, but I don't find it too difficult because it's mainly the changes you make to the bike such as suspension and gearing that help with that.
TMX: What did you most enjoy about the Arenacross Tour?
JC: Winning the championship
TMX: Your performance was virtually perfect this year, what made you so good?
JC: I did a lot constructive training at Wheeldon all winter and I was also lucky enough to get asked to ride Geneva and I learned a lot from doing that.
TMX: How well did you know the rest of the riders?
JC: I didn't really know them that well at first but I got to know them more. I knew Jordan Moxey from racing him last year, and also Jimmy Margetson, who joined us at the last couple of rounds. It was cool to see him back after his big injures.
TMX: Was there much in the way of rivalry?
JC: I wouldn't have said so.
TMX: How did it feel going up to the Pro class for the last two rounds?
JC: I loved it! I preferred that class as I found it safer than the ProLites as the other riders would stick to their line through the sections.
TMX: Do you ride much with your younger brother Ben?
JC: Yes, my brother and I ride quite a bit together, but he prefers to play-ride with me on the Mini-bikes.
TMX: Anything else you'd like to add?
JC: I'd just like to thank everyone who has helped in the build-up and throughout the Arenacross UK series and everyone who is going to help the rest of the year. However, it would never have happened without the Arenacross UK staff, so thank you guys and girls.
