Hawkstone Park: Shaun Simpson set to spice up MX Nationals at iconic circuit
By Andrew Hill on 4th Aug 22
Hawkstone Park and Shaun Simpson is a delicious pairing that British motocross fans shouldn't miss. And that's what you can enjoy this weekend as the fifth round of the Michelin MX Nationals powered by Milwaukee heads to one of the most iconic motocross circuits in the world.
To keep things fresh, the excellent Salop Club have a few track amendments waiting for a packed rider line-up.
Warm sunshine, not something we see at the famous early pre-season international, will welcome two days of racing with a smorgasbord of classes, including the Fastest 40 pro riders.
With many MXN titles unlikely to be settled at this penultimate round, the racing will undoubtedly be fiercely contested, with riders doing all they can to close, or extend, the gap on their rivals.
In the Apico MX2 Elite class, where Tom Grimshaw (Chambers Husqvarna) leads a pro championship for the first time, Jamie Carpenter (GRT Impact KTM) will be on the hunt to close the 17-point gap between them.
Tom Grimshaw
With an outside chance is the third-placed man Calum Mitchell who's 20 points back from Carpenter. While in fourth is two-stroke advocate Jamie Law (Apico Factory Racing Husqvarna).
Although the Grimshaw and Carpenter battle will be the one to watch, Dylan Walsh (Revo Seven Kawasaki) will be the hot favourite for the win. However, the British-born Kiwi will not be in contention for championship honours with too many rounds missed.
One class likely to be deiced at Hawkstone Park is the Leatt MX1 championship, with Harri Kullas (Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha) enjoying a 45-point lead over Josh Gilbert (SC Sportshomes powered by Stebbings Husqvarna).
However, Gilbert and Crendon Fastrack Honda's Tommy Searle will do all they can to hold off the Estonian Express.
Tommy Searle
The in-form Searle will want to pull out two holeshots and hope some riders can get between him and Kullas.
Spicing up the pro MX1 class is SS24 KTM's Simpson. He'll be a hot favourite to take the chequered flag first at a track that suits his skills no matter the conditions. Although not in contention for the championship, the Scot will still be highly motivated, especially after coming oh-so-close to a moto win last weekend at MXGB's Whitby.
Add to the mix the likes of John Adamson (ASA United GASGAS), a resurgent Martin Barr (Apico Factory Racing Husqvarna), Stuart Edmonds, Brad Todd, Liam Knight, Petar Petrov, Jason Meara and Glenn McCormick, to name a few; the racing will fast and intense.
The elite pro riders will be in action on Sunday, while all the other classes race both Saturday and Sunday. Spectator tickets are 20 and cover both days, while camping per vehicle costs 10.
More like this…
Harri Kullas is the 2022 MX Nationals champion (Pro MX1)
Harri Kullas has won the Michelin MX Nationals' Pro MX1 class for the second year in succession s as he ran out a comfortable winner in both motos at Hawkstone Park.
Late drama costs Tommy Searle victory at Cusses Gorse
For an incredible eighth time this year, Crendon Fastrack Honda rider Tommy Searle ended on the podium of a national race in the MX Nationals at Cusses Gorse on Sunday.
Searle’s stunning podium run continues at MX Nationals Lyng round
Crendon Fastrack Honda rider Tommy Searle once again took his Honda CRF450R to a podium finish at the MX Nationals round at the rough Lyng circuit in Norfolk on Sunday. It’s the sixth time this season he has been on the podium at national championship races.