Hawkstone is here
By TMX Archives on 26th Feb 09
International opener gets British Motocross season underway FOLLOWING the big international pre-season meets on the continent at Mantova in Italy and Valence in the south of France, some of the big hitters on the world stage will be in action this weekend on the loamy sands and famous hill of Hawkstone Park, near Shrewsbury.
With the British Championship and GP openers fast approaching, this pre-season shake down will give fans and riders alike an indication as to who has really been putting in the right training over the winter and who are likely to be the big-hitters in 2009.
The day will be action-packed with on-track action starting at 9am, with practice and qualifying followed by two MX1, two MX2 and two support races plus an action packed British head-to-head shoot-out.
CAS Honda's British MX1 Champion, Billy MacKenzie and his team-mate Cedric Melotte will be unveiling their factory machinery, rumoured to be worth £65,000 apiece. That being the case, Billy will be anxious to make a confident start to his season. Likewise, with news that the Scot will not be contesting the British series in 2009, this will be one of the few opportunities to catch ‘Billy Whiz' in action on home soil.
From the previous international fixtures, everyone is aware that British MX2 Champ, Shaun Simpson, another Scot, has been coming out of the traps like a rocket-ship on his factory Red Bull KTM and is capable of maintaining a high pace for a full race duration.
However, the two Brits won't have it all their own way at Hawkstone on Sunday as world class riders like Steve Ramon, Melotte, Kevin Strijbos, Rui Goncalves (Simpson's team-mate), Ken De Dycker, Marc De Reuver, Sven Breugelmans (the two-times World MX3 Champ), Tom Church, Carl Nunn and Steve Sword – the trio who battled for the major honours at Little Silver last weekend – and many more will be embroiled in the battle for the final honours in what is set to be one of the most exciting Internationals at Hawkstone in the events 12-year history.
The Hawkstone Park circuit is located just off the A55 and A49 roads. The exit off the A49 can be found between B5065 and B5063, and is sign-posted ‘Booley/ Stanton'. Postcode for the circuit is SY4 4NA.
Admission prices are:– Adults £20; Children Under 14 Free. Parking at the circuit is free of charge.
Get yourself along to witness the action...