10th February 2013
www.hawkstonemx.co.uk
Danny Hart is a World Downhill Mountain Bike Champion and enjoys anything on two-wheels. He rides for the Giant Factory race team, but in his spare time he practices and races his RM-Z250. Yet he's never raced in anything as big as the Hawkstone International. That, however, is about to change.
Away from his successful downhill mountain bike career, Danny Hart is no stranger to racing motocross, after he started riding at five years old. He regularly gets competitive on his RM-Z250, but never before at a meeting as big or prestigious at the Hawkstone International. But as he continues to prepare himself for the 2013 mountain biking season, one of the, if not the, biggest motocross meetings on the calendar is firmly set as part of his plans.
"I ride motocross all winter," Danny explains. "It's all good preparation and helps me get ready for the mountain biking season. But I never really have an aim at the end of it. I just sort of stop. So I thought that if I worked really hard and got myself sharp and fit, it would be good to compete at the International.
"It's quite early in the year, so it gives me plenty of time afterwards to get back on my mountain bike regularly before the first round of the season. But I really wanted to ride at the Hawkstone International anyway, as it's such a big race on the calendar here in the UK, and I remember watching my dad racing there when I was younger, and always thought it would be a good thing to do one day. Then that would see me start to wind down on the motocross front as the season gets underway."
He's under no illusions as to how competitive the field will be, and knows the event attracts some of the biggest names in the sport. A lot of preparation has been undertaken to be ready for the race, and while he's not being overly ambitious with his targets, he's certainly not there to make up the numbers.
"My aim is to qualify for the main MX2 race. This race attracts some of the best riders in the world, and I want to race against them. If I don't manage to qualify for the main race, then I'd still get to ride and compete in the support race, but I don't want to do that. I've spent a lot of time on the bike recently and my speed has been good, so I'm going there to make the main MX2 race.
"I've been entering as many races as I can over the winter, although with the weather being so bad a lot of them were cancelled, so I perhaps haven't done as many as I'd have liked. But I've gone pretty well in them, with a few wins in the 250 classes."
As well as being a keen motocrosser, riding his RM-Z250 is also good training for when the downhill mountain biking season kicks off.
"Because of my injury during the season last year I was more unfit than I had been in the past, so I had to start getting fit from the off. I spent a lot of time just riding my bike quite a lot at first. But then a couple of months ago I started to really train seriously for the season and started riding the RM-Z two to three days a week. I used FatCat a lot, but also spent a bit of time at Doncaster Moto Parc near Finningley. That has got me much fitter and helped me lose a bit of weight, and I'm feeling much better for it. So we should be in good shape for Hawkstone, and in the best shape possible for the mountain biking season.
"I'll also have a 2013 RM-Z250 for the races, too, which I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on. The 2012 model is great, but I'm looking forward to the new one with the new, second generation Showa SFF front forks, the new gearbox and new engine internals too. Should make me even more competitive!"
The Hawkstone International takes place on Sunday 10 February, 2013. The Heads and All Threads Suzuki team of Graeme Irwin, Luke Burton and Jordan McClelland will also be competing as they prepare for the 2013 British Motocross Championship and the Red Bull Pro Nationals series.
Hawkstone are actively looking for more sponsors of the 2013 event to add to their current loyal supporters. Sponsorship prices start from as little as £250 - for more details or the sponsorship package please contact me on carly.rathmell@btinternet.com or carlyrathmell@yahoo.co.uk.
It is once again scheduled to appear on MotorsTV which includes a preview programme. Also it will be extensively covered by the specialist motorcycle press before and after the event which gives a potential sponsor a prime chance to promote their brand.
For entry details please contact Gary Ford on ford542@btinternet.com or call 07966 367456 - entry forms are available now.
Trade stand enquiries can be made with info@rhlactivities.com or by calling 01873 840640.
Press enquiries to carly.rathmell@btinternet.com- these need to be with me no later than the 25th January.
Tickets are only available to buy on the gate on the day, £25 each which includes a free race programme. Under 14's are free.
Camping will be £20 per pitch - motorhome/tent/caravan.
Parking on site is also free.
For more information see -
http://www.hawkstonemx.co.uk/LatestInternationalNews.aspx
The 2012 Hawkstone International Motocross is supported by
Hawk Plant Hire - www.hawk-group.co.uk
Doodson Motorsport - www.doodsonbg.com
RJS Builders - www.rjsbuildersltd.co.uk
Salop Leisure - www.salopleisure.co.uk
ISO2 - www.iso2nutrition.co.uk
Cradley Kawasaki - www.cradleykawasaki.co.uk
Media Partners
TMX & DBR
MX VICE
For Directions to Hawkstone Motocross circuit click here: -
http://www.hawkstonemx.co.uk/Travel.aspx
Riders as of 07.01.13
MX 1
No Name Machine
10 Ryan Staveley Honda
20 Ross Keyworth Revo Talon Kawasaki
21 Gautier Paulin Kawasaki Racing Team
22 Kevin Strijbos Rockstar Suzuki World MX1
24 Jilani Cambre JDS Racing Team KTM
25 Clement Desalle Rockstar Suzuki World MX1
31 Alex Snow Oakleaf Kawasaki
34 Jamie Collins TVR Racing KTM
38 Jake Gowan D3 KTM
40 Luke Burton Heads & All Threads Suzuki
42 Nathan Parker Revo Talon Kawasaki
60 Brad Anderson Maxxis Kawasaki by LPE
68 Shane Carless Oakleaf Kawasaki
74 Patrick Major MJW Kawasaki
89 Jeremy Van Horebeek Kawasaki Racing Team
90 Aaron Lowe B+C/Michelin/Powerenhancer/Motul Suzuki
100 Tommy Searle CLS Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
102 Jake Boyes Wulf/Grid MX/Wearside Rewinds Honda
111 Greg Fisher Jack Horseman Kawasaki
113 Michael Mahon VMX KTM
125 Jamie Law Dyer & Butler KTM
160 Scott Elderfield CMP Racewear/Goldentyre Kawasaki
176 Jamie Ellis RSS/Spiral Graphics/RFX KTM
191 Scott Ardren NC Groundworks Kawasaki
271 Tom Kelly Malin KTM Racing
393 Jarad Goodwin Suzuki
701 Dorren Coutts Maxxis Kawasaki by LPE
871 Connor Walkley Maxxis Kawasaki by LPE
MX 2
No Name Machine
5 Graeme Irwin Heads & All Threads Suzuki
7 Arnaud Tonus CLS Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
14 Charlie Hamlet Feehily/Morris/Fox/RFX Suzuki
24 Liam Garland Dyer & Butler KTM
25 Glenn Coldenhoff Standing Construct KTM
33 Daniel Brough Heatex Racing Kawasaki
35 Pascal Rauchenecker Standing Construct KTM
55 Mike Kras Team Beursfoon Suzuki
63 Ceriel Klein Kromhof HFS Logistics MX Team KTM
69 Aidan Wigger Underdog Racing Kawasaki
73 Luke Norris Oct X MNE Kawasaki
77 Alessandro Lupino CLS Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
84 Jeffrey Herlings Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
95 Dan Thornhill Revo Talon Kawasaki
99 Nathan Watson
110 Adam Darbyshire Underdog Racing Honda
116 David Blackburn Blackburn Motorbodies Honda
124 Glenn Fletcher CM Engineering/Regent MX/ JWR Honda
171 Zac Stealey V Customs Kawasaki
176 Aaron Pipon Martin Racing KTM
272 Neville Bradshaw Putoline Honda
303 Jake Millward Oakleaf Kawasaki
311 Jack Kelly Malin KTM Racing
711 James Cottrell Putoline Honda
771 Damon Graulus Standing Construct KTM
811 Adam Sterry STR KTM
911 Jordi Tixier Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
991 Ben Watson
200 James Dunn HM Plant KTM UK
44 Elliott Banks-Browne HM Plant KTM UK
Facebook - www.facebook.com/HawkstoneInternational
Twitter - HIMX2013