The Arenacross World Tour are pleased to announce the Stark Future Racing team will be returning to the championship for 2025 to defend their team and pro rider championships.
The reigning champions made notable history in the sport this year by becoming the first electric motorcycle manufacturer to win a major international off-road motorcycle championship competing against conventional fuel powered bikes.
After 10 years of chasing down his dream of becoming Arenacross UK champion, Jack Brunell finally got it done in his first year as a factory rider with the Stark Future Racing team, outlining and delivering the company’s commitment to producing a competitive electric motorcycle in the demanding world of off-road motorcycling. It was a huge moment, not only for Stark Future, but also for Jack personally and a fitting way to bring the curtain down on a brilliant, action packed 2024 Arenacross championship.
Sebastien Tortelli, Stark Future’s race director and former double World MX champion has played in integral part in not only the development of the motorcycle but also establishing the brand in the sport and was one of the many happy faces of the Stark Future Racing team celebrating the historic moment at Wembley’s OVO Arena back in February. Like many, he is looking forward the 2025 AX World Tour and the challenge of defending the crown, saying;
“At Stark Future, we are excited for the new season with Jack Brunell defending the Arenacross title alongside teammate Eddie Wade in the UK and Jorge Zaragoza competing in the first ever AX World Tour. We know defending the title won’t be easy with the strong competition ahead, but our testing has gone well, and we've made great progress in key areas we needed to improve. We’re confident heading into the 2025 season and look forward to the close racing we’re sure this 2025 season will bring."
Current AX Pro champion, Brunell, agrees with Tortelli’s sentiments and as a British rider is particularly happy about the expansion of the series to become a World Tour.
“I’m excited about it. It’s hard not to be really because it’s taking it to the next level” says Jack. “They’re big on motorsport in Abu Dhabi and I know how hard Matt (Bates) has been working on trying to expand Arenacross over the years, so I appreciate and applaud his efforts in finally making it happen. It’s a big deal for us British riders to go to the Middle East and hopefully other countries in the near future because if nothing else it’s just good life experience, but if we can also help put our sport more on the map on a global scale and get more investment coming in it will be cool to be part of that and the positivity. When I do step away from racing, I’d like to see it in a healthy place so the next generation like little John (Slade) can make a decent career out of it and riders are rewarded more for the effort it takes. Wembley was a great night, one of the best of my life and now I’ve won the title and I’m the champion I want to stay as the champion and win the British and World Tour titles.”
After Stark Future competing and winning the 2024 Arenacross Tour, owner and promoter Matt Bates appreciates the significance and historic achievement and is obviously happy to see the team return to defend both the team and pro rider championships.
“When we first spoke to Stark Future about racing Arenacross, and in turn becoming the first race series ever to allow e-power race side by side with traditional 450's, I think everyone involved knew how big of a moment it would be for the sport, but especially for them as a groundbreaking new brand to our sport. Obviously, by winning the 2024 Championship, it went well for them, and the rest is now firmly in the AX history books for off-road motorcycling. Having Stark Future at Arenacross brings fresh impetus and interest, and it's a pleasure to have the whole team involved with the series again. I was also personally so pleased for Jack finally winning the title, and I’m looking forward to seeing them defend their titles and further develop their motorcycles.”
2025 Arenacross Tour Schedule
*Round 1 – 4 January, BP Pulse Arena, Birmingham, England*
Round 2 – 18 January, OVO Arena, London, England
Round 3 – 31 January, SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Round 4 – 1 February, SEE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Round 5 – 8 February, P&J Live Arena, Aberdeen, Scotland
*Round 6 – 22 February, AO Arena, Manchester, England (British Championship Tour Finals)
*Round 7 – April – TBA (Middle East/ International)
*Round 8 – 26 April, Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (World Tour Championship Finals)
For more information on Arenacross, check out https://www.axworldtour.com