The Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship supported by Pro Clean hits the halfway stage this weekend with round four at Blaxhall in Suffolk organised by Woodbridge & DMCC.
The award-winning sand circuit is always perfectly primped and prepped and will be in prime condition on Sunday for the eagerly-anticipated battle between MX1 series leader Shaun Simpson (RFX KTM powered by PAR Homes) and second-placed Tommy Searle (BOS Kawasaki).
The pair have traded wins at the opening three rounds although a double victory by Simpson last time out at Canada Heights has handed him an eight-point lead. Searle came out ahead in both motos at last weekend’s MXGP of France so the momentum is with him but the Scot is a tough man to beat and the contest is too close to call.
Currently sitting third in the championship 50 points off Simpson’s pace, class newcomer Lewis Tombs (Buildbase Honda) has continually impressed following his move up to a 450 but he is facing stiff opposition from another MX1 rookie with Jake Millward (Chambers Racing Husqvarna) just one point adrift.
Next up is Estonia’s Harri Kullas (Cab Screens Deos Group Racing) who will be looking to repeat his podium performance from round two at Lyng with fellow Baltic rider Gert Krestinov (Phoenix Tools Kawasaki) also tipped to go well and both Brad Anderson (Verde Substance KTM) on the two-stroke and Mel Pocock (ASA Unlimited KTM) should also figure near the sharp end of the class.
It’s just as tight in the MX2 class where Alvin Ostlund (REVO Husqvarna UK) will carry the red plate for the first time. The Swede leads Conrad Mewse (Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee) by a single point but with the defending champion currently injured we need to look back to Dylan Walsh (REVO Husqvarna UK) who is currently third, 13 points behind his team-mate.
When it comes to outright speed Walsh just has the edge but the Kiwi will need to stay upright in both motos if he’s going to challenge for the win.
With neither rider having raced Blaxhall before, fourth-placed Josh Gilbert (Buildbase Honda) is in with a great shout of claiming his first-ever Maxxis overall but he’ll have to contend with veteran Martin Barr (Crescent Yamaha) who beat him on a tie-break at Blaxhall in 2018 and GP rider Bas Vaessen (Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee).
Blaxhall will also feature round four of the MX2 Youth series where Joel Rizzi (RFX KTM powered by PAR Homes) and Ike Carter (GL12 Husqvarna) are expected to renew their battle. Kyle McNichol (Manchester Motorcycles Husqvarna), Dominic Lancett (Verde Substance KTM) and Bobby Bruce (Crescent Yamaha) should all figure in the results as well.