The 2012 season is here! This Sunday sees the opening round of the new Maxxis ACU British Championship at the fantastic FatCat Moto Parc venue near Doncaster. FatCat Moto Parc is a new venue to the Championship for 2012 and provides the ideal location to start the season. The deep sandy venue will be playing host to one of the most competitive British Championship seasons in recent years. With a number of top class World Championship riders competing in both the MX1 and MX2 classes, competition is sure to be fierce as no less than 15 major teams, representing all the main manufacturers will be racing for the coveted title.
Current MX2 Champion and winner of the Valence and Hawkstone Internationals, Arnaud Tonus will be returning to the British Championship action on-board the Monster Energy Bike It Yamaha machine. Also returning to the Championship is Zach Osborne, who has recently participated in the opening rounds of the AMA Supercross scoring two podium finishes in the process. New to the Championship Nicolas Aubin will make his debut for the newly formed Buildbase Honda team, set up by former World Champion, David Thorpe. Elliott Banks Browne on the HM Plant KTM UK will also be looking to make a strong start to the season after an impressive performance at Hawkstone Park two weeks ago. Other riders to look out for will be Ray Rowson, Bryan MacKenzie, Mel Pocock, Graeme Irwin along with Stuart Edmonds and many others.
Meanwhile the MX1 class looks to be the strongest it has ever been, with the inclusion of a large number of former Grand Prix winners including new riders to the Championship, Kevin Strijbos on the HM Plant KTM UK machine and Marc de Reuver on-board the Lanes Kawasaki, along with former British Champion’s Shaun Simpson and Stephen Sword. The MX1 class also features a number of top level riders including GP regulars Matiss Karro, Nathan Parker and Alfie Smith. Top British riders are likely to be Maxxis Henderson LPE’s Martin Barr, PAR Honda’s Kristian Whatley, Route 77 M-VRD Honda’s Gert Krestinov and Oakleaf Kawasaki’s Alex Snow.
Also taking place at FatCat Moto Parc is the first of the three round ACU British Veteran’s Championship. Defending Champion Greg Hanson will have a battle on his hands with Phil Mercer, who after joining the season after round one finished fourth and also claimed the runner up spot in the World Championship. Other notable riders to watch out for in the Veteran’s class are Brian Wheeler and Phil Lewis along with many more.
All the action starts at 9am this Sunday with the MX2 practice. The first of eight races of Europe’s Premier Domestic Championship will commence at 12:15pm with the MX2 action. For further information please check the Maxxis ACU British Championship website www.mxgb.co.uk.
To view the event preview please follow this link http://www.mxgb.co.uk/videos.php