Revo ACU British Motocross Championship rev-up - Hawkstone Park
By Team TMX on 14th Jun 23
News Motocross British Motocross Championship British Youth Nationals
The Revo ACU British Motocross Championship heads to Hawkstone Park in Shropshire this weekend (June 17/18) for two days of flat-out race action around the iconic circuit that’s famous for its power-sapping sandy surface and incredibly steep hill.
As well as welcoming the MX1, MX2, 125/250 and BW85 youth classes that have been seen four times so far this year (Oakhanger, Lyng, Foxhill and Blaxhall), Hawkstone will also host the 65cc and SW85 classes as their championship chases get underway following a series of regional qualifiers.
The youth classes get underway on Saturday while the Pros join the show for Sunday’s action.
Four rounds in and three riders are very much clear of the rest in the MX1 title chase with Crendon Fastrack Honda riders Conrad Mewse and Josh Gilbert locked in battle with CAB Screens Crescent Yamaha’s Harri Kullas. The current MX2 champion, Mewse, leads the way on 158 points with Kullas seven behind and Gilbert four off his total. Sunday’s race action is bound to be brutal and with little to separate the leading three, fans are in for a real treat although it’s bound to be a nail-biter for the riders, their families and team personnel.
67 points behind Gilbert in third, Ashton Dickinson (TALK Templant KTM) heads a nine-rider scrap for championship positions with just 14 points separating Dickinson in fourth from Martin Barr (Apico Husqvarna) who is currently 12th. So, for clarification, Dickinson has 80 points, fifth-placed Brad Todd (Bikesport/DK Offroad Honda) has 79, SS24 Gabriel KTM’s Tristan Purdon is sixth with 77 points and Evgeny Bobryshev (SC Sporthomes Husqvarna) has 76.
Shaun Simpson (SS24 Gabriel KTM) will be a non-starter at Hawkstone following his heavy crash at Blaxhall so is sure to lose ground. He’s currently tied on 70 points with James Carpenter (CAB Screens Crescent Yamaha). ASA United GASGAS runner John Adamson rounds out the top 10 with 67 points and he’s one ahead of Gabriel KTM’s Liam Knight who is tied with Barr on 66. The Ulsterman is also a confirmed non-starter this weekend as he recovers from injury.
The crazy thing is there’s even more talent in the line-up that we’ve not mentioned yet. Tom Grimshaw (Chambers GASGAS) is currently lucky 13th in the series standings after an unlucky start to his season. Current MX1 champ, Tommy Searle (GTCI Revo Kawasaki), is on the recovery trail following an eventful start to his season. He’ll be hoping to upset the apple cart this weekend. Also, expect Ivo Monticelli (ASA United GASGAS) to be in the mix. The Italian stallion gave Revo series leader Mewse something to think about as they battled at last weekend’s Scottish Championship round at Doune and he’ll certainly be one to watch this weekend.
Isak Gifting (426 Motorsports Stebbings GASGAS) has a bit of breathing room at the top of the MX2 championship with a 41-point advantage over ASA United GASGAS rider Bobby Bruce. Two-time British Champion Elliott Banks-Browne is third in points, just two behind Bruce, and has plenty of history at Hawkstone Park. Will we see him fight for race wins as he has in the past?
Taylor Hammal (SS24 Gabriel KTM) and Charlie Cole (Blades Bikes Kawasaki) sit fourth and fifth in the series standings but are both a bit battered and bruised after last weekend’s German GP. Welshman Joel Rizzi (DK Offroad GASGAS) put points on the board at last weekend’s Thunder Valley AMA National and will be hoping to score big at main backer DK Offroad’s local round. Mel Pocock (GTCI Revo Kawasaki) is sure to be in the mix too.
Mel’s teammate Billy Askew is unbeaten in the 250 youth class in 2023 across all series that he’s entered. He’ll be hoping to keep that streak running with another dominant display at Hawkstone Park. Askew has a 43-point lead over second-placed Mckenzie Marshall who like Rizzi will be wanting to do something good for the DK Offroad crew who back him. Husqvarna riders Liam Bennett and Jak Taylor are embroiled in a tight fight with Marshall for the runner-up spot in the series with three points separating them.
Reece Jones (SJP Moto KTM) and Wal Beaney (Store 114 KTM) have been pretty much inseparable in 2023 and enter Hawkstone Park seven points apart at the head of the 125cc Youth championship. Regularly running 1-2 in class, they’re probably the biggest threat to toppling Askew although, of course, their classes are scored separately even though they race together.
Josh Vail (SJP Moto KTM) has been super impressive in the BW85 class and aside from yielding to Charlie Richmond at Foxhill has won every race he’s started and currently sits on a 17-point lead. Jamie Keith and Drew Stock are also right up there in the fight for the runner-up spot so keep an eye on them as they scrap it out.
We’ve no real form guide for either the SW85 or 65cc youth classes and entry information is limited. What we do know is that each rider in the line-up has qualified for their place through regional events so these are the cream of the crop. We can’t wait to see them in action.
It all kicks off bright and early on Saturday (9am) with Practice/Qualifying and three races for each of the youth classes except the 125/250 class which only races twice on day one.
Sunday sees the MX2 class hit the track at 9am for Practice/Qualifying followed by the MX1 class 35 minutes later. Then racing gets underway with the final motos for the youth classes ahead of the Championship MX1 and MX2 motos. All being well the racing should be wrapped up before five with the podiums following straight after.
Check out rhlactivities.com for ticket info.
Hawkstone Park is situated about 12 miles north of Shrewsbury in the grand county of Shropshire and can be accessed from both the A49 and A53. The postcode is SY4 4NA.
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