Tommy Searle confirms knee injury
By Team TMX on 4th Jan 17
Motocross Injury Report Tommy Searle
Tommy Searle will miss the 2017 Arenacross Tour after injuring his knee.
The British hero was in California putting in pre-Christmas preparations for the series when he sustained the injury.
The good news for AX fans is that former British motocross champion and GP winner Billy MacKenzie will make his tour debut at his home round in Glasgow on January 14.
"It's been a nightmare and I'm truly gutted not to be behind the gate this weekend,” said Searle.
"I was really looking forward to being part of the whole AX Tour and racing in front of fans around the UK.
"This is a real setback to the start of 2017 for me and I'm doing everything I can to get back on the bike.
"I'll be at Manchester this weekend to meet fans and sign autographs and, recovery permitting, will get to as many AX rounds as I can to cheer on my Team Green mates.”
MacKenzie, one of the most exciting British riders of the last decade, will race a Honda with support from Dave Thorpe.
His appearance is guaranteed to be super-popular among the partisan Scottish fans.
The 32-year-old has considerable experience of racing supercross in the UK and Australia where he lived for a number of years.
"I've always been pretty good off the start and that's important for arenacross,” he said. "With its short, sharp laps every inch counts. I'm sure I will get the hang of it more with every lap.
"I don't mind the short sharp races as I have always had an intense pace at the start of races so I'm hoping it will work in my favour.
"DT's team is the most professional and experienced team in the paddock and it'll be great to have the support of the Buildbase Honda set-up again.
"It's also good fun being more involved with the set-up of my own bike and working closely with Keith Amor and his brother Guy in our new X-AXIS.co garage.”
Billy's competitive nature combined with the prospect of racing in Scotland meant he jumped at the opportunity to contest the second round of the tour.
"I just like racing,” he added. "I have raced my whole life and I enjoy the challenge. The opportunity to race in front of a home crowd was something that appealed to me after spending so long abroad.
"It will be the little bump-start I need to get some laps in this year. Fun track, local race, great team.”
Thorpe, a three-time world 500cc champion, is running three-man Buildbase Honda and Keystone Honda teams in the 2017 Arenacross Tour and is looking forward to chucking MacKenzie into the mix.
"Billy's status in the sport is immense,” he said. "He's had an association with Honda through his classic bike restoring business and so, when the opportunity came up for him to have a one-off ride at AX, it was the perfect opportunity to get him out on a Honda in Buildbase livery.
"Anything can happen in arenacross and no-one can rule Billy out.
"Can he get on the podium? Who knows? But one thing is for certain and that is he will be exciting to watch.”
The seven-round 2017 Arenacross Tour kicks off in Manchester Arena on Saturday night. For more information and to buy tickets go to www.arenacrossuk.com
