The Cromwell Trucks ACU British Quad Championship starts this Sunday (April 20) and with reigning champion Paul Holmes ruled out of the opening round with injury the betting on who’ll win has been blown wide open!
Holmes was expected to arrive at Pontrilas in Herefordshire as favourite after dominating the series for the last two years. However, a recent crash has left the 26-year-old Yorkshireman with a broken collarbone and aggravated an old shoulder injury, which both required surgery.
Now, upwards of ten riders could challenge for the prestigious title, which this year has been given a new lease of life thanks to a new format and new promoters. And with all six rounds to count and with three 20-minute races per round the riders know they can’t afford to ease into the series.
Last year’s championship runner up, Suzuki’s Carl Bunce, and Yamaha’s new signing Stefan Murphy, are both expected to be in the mix. Bunce, winner of last year’s Weston Beach Race, has again shown superb form in the early season beach races while Murphy has been virtually unbeatable in moto cross events at sand tracks this year.
However, with Pontrilas a hard pack track, reigning British Under 21 champion Luke Cooper is expected to be a serious challenger. The KTM mounted Welshman has shown good early season speed on similar going and should also have a lot of support with the track just a few miles from the Welsh border.
An unknown quantity will be the strong contingent from Northern Ireland. The top two from the recent opening round of the Ulster championship, Dean Colhoun and Justin Reid, head the assault from across the water. In addition David Cowan and Mark McLernon are also capable race wins. Pontrilas will also be the first time the Irish and ‘the rest’ have met on track this year!
The unknown quantity in the field will be 13-times British champion Paul Winrow. Now over 40 and having sat out the British championship for the last two years Winrow is back doing the whole series. And, while he may no longer be the indomitable force he once was, Winrow still possesses canny race craft and a mean turn of speed when he needs it. Expect him to be there or there about over a whole season.
One rider who will definitely win races, but not the championship, is reigning European champion Jeremie Warnia, from France, who will be making guest appearance at least two championship rounds. Other younger riders capable of winning races on their day include George Callaway, Sheldon Seal and Oli Sansom.
Three other titles will also be up for grabs this year. First, the Under 21 Championship – this season renamed the Connor Smith Six Sixty Under 21 Championship in honour of the late Scottish star who was expected to be a leading force in this year’s series. Plus, there is a Manufacturer Championship and, for the first time a Nations Cup, with the top two riders from each home nation in each race scoring points towards this new team event.
In addition to the British championship races there will be a full programme of youth and adult support races in the form of the NORA-MX Quad Championships.
Pontrilas Moto Cross Park (HR2 0BG) is situated on the A465 Hereford to Abbergaveny Road at Howton Court, seven miles South West of Hereford.
Practice will start at 10am, with racing starting straight after around 11am.