Thursday October 11, 2018 at 4:05pm
The Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship supported by Pro Clean signs off this Sunday at Cadders Hill, Lyng, where the MX1, MX2 and MXY2 titles will all be decided.
With MX1 series leader Jake Nicholls (Buildbase Honda) out after breaking his leg the 450 title race has been thrown wide open. The 28-year-old could still clinch the crown but it’s now out of his hands as he won’t be able to add to his 39-point lead.
With 50 points available on Sunday, the only rider who’ll be able to deprive Jake of the title is 2010 champion Evgeny Bobryshev (Lombard Express Suzuki with PAR Homes). The former HRC man will need to come away with at least 40 points so it’s by no means a done deal.
Defending champion Graeme Irwin (Hitachi ASA KTM UK) is also sidelined after sustaining a wrist injury at the final GP of the season at Imola so expect Elliott Banks-Browne (Geartec Husqvarna) and Tommy Searle (Bike It DRT Kawasaki) to leapfrog him. Ryan Houghton (Rob Hooper Racing Yamaha) could pass him too but he’ll need to have his highest-scoring ride of the year.
Steven Clarke will also move up to the MX1 class on a Honda with the main aim of taking points off Bobryshev.
In MX2 series leader Conrad Mewse (Hitachi ASA KTM UK) broke his hand last time out at Hawkstone Park and the DNF that resulted saw his advantage over Josh Gilbert (Buildbase Honda) cut to just 14 points. Conrad has been back in action since and scored world championship points in Holland and Italy so will start favourite but he’ll need to bring his A game to Norfolk.
Mel Pocock (REVO Husqvarna UK) is next in the queue and, lying just a point behind Josh, is certainly within striking range of the title. He’s taken the overall at the last two rounds and since Hawkstone has secured second in the EMX250 championship so his speed is not in doubt.
Pocock’s 2019 team-mate Dylan Walsh will also race MX2 as a wild card.
In MXY2 it was 15-year-old Rossi Beard (Putoline Planet Husqvarna) who came away with a three-race maximum score from Hawkstone to jump into a 24-point championship lead over George Sim-Mutch (Manchester MX Husqvarna) with Joel Rizzi (RFX Crescent Yamaha) a further 10 points adrift.
Practice kicks off at 9am with the first MXY2 race at 10.45am. The opening MX2 race is at noon. On-the-gate admission is £20 for adults and £5 for children with family tickets available priced at £45.
Cadders Hill is situated just north of the A1067 Norwich to Fakenham road and three miles from the A47 Norwich to Kings Lynn road. Postcode is NR9 5QZ.
Picture © Imagerich Media