It’s the final round of the 2019 AMCA British Motocross Championship this coming Sunday, September 1st at Long Lane, near Telford in Shropshire and what an event it promises to be! With all of the ‘bonus’ points now added to the riders scores accumulated during 8 hard fought rounds, at least two of the classes look set to now go right down to the wire and a tense last moto decider!
In this series powered by Datatag and supported by Dunlop, the MX1 class as thrilled right from the off. And going into Sunday’s finale Shane Carless on the FUS Marsh MX Husqvarna is just 28 points better off than Neville Bradshaw mounted on the big green DK Off-road Kawasaki. Mathematically, James Dodd and Josh Waterman are also still in the hunt for honours so Long Lane is sure to produce yet more spectacular action. At present Luke Mellows holds 5th in MX1 but is still struggling with a shoulder injury and his participation this weekend is in doubt. Should the popular Bristol rider miss out, his current placing still looks though to be just about in the bag with enough points on the board to see off the likes of Will Hughes, Ashley Thomas, Gary Gibson, Andrew Smart and Luke Meredith.
In MX2, Jamie Wainwright (Apex KTM UK) will wrap up the title with a moto win in the first race at Long Lane. At present he’s 121 points clear of Kristian Whatley who bravely competed the previous round at Brookthorpe despite suffering from a badly broken finger. Kristian sits 45 points clear of Ryan Crowder with Josh Coleman looking like the only other realistic rider able to break into the final top three. After his great maiden overall win last time out, Welsh 2T ace Corie Southwood is up into 6th place in the standings just behind Luke Dean but ahead of Clinton Barrs, Mark Young, Lee Truman and Matt Ridgway.
Following some epic season-long tussles in the 125cc class, just 12 points separate leader Lewis Dowdeswell (FWC Bay Construction KTM) and Chris Povey (FUS Marsh MX Husqvarna). Having clawed back 25 points during the last two rounds, Povey is certainly a man on a mission and will travel to Long Lane full of confidence. Currently sitting in 3rd, the consistent Ryan Zebedee is almost home and dry, holding a 136 point advantage over Nathan Bache with Jordan Ridgway, Ben Watkins, Tomos Wright, Ben White and Richy Roberts next up.
If Jamie Powell (SRH KTM) scores an opening moto top three position at Long Lane and finishes ahead of closest rival Simon Lane, that will be enough in his debut AMCA Vets campaign to confirm the title. Lane though is the defending Champion and despite currently being 130 points adrift of Powell is sure to try and delay Powell’s crowning as the new King until the latest possible moment! Another 2019 Vets class debutant Craig Chamberlain currently holds 3rd in the standings, 111 points clear of the gallant Colin Conduit. Battling it out right to the end, just 11 points separate the next three riders in the table, Ste Marlow, Darren Bennett and James Lane so there’s still plenty to race for!
Having been in superb form right from the off in 2019, Matt Tolley (IDS/Tolley Jewellers KTM) leads the charge to the AMCA Youth title and could well wrap up the crown in the opening moto at Long Lane. At present he is a very big 152 points clear of Harry Ridgway with Ezra Blackwell in 3rd and so he needs just a 13th place or better to clinch a richly deserved title win. Going into the previous round at Brookthorpe, Ridgway was just a single point clear of Blackwell but that gap as now increased to 29. Although there’s still three moto’s to come at Long Lane, Tolley, Ridgway and Blackwell can’t be caught in the race for the final top three medal positions. Next best in this class are Joshua Fletcher-Williams, Brodie Salt, Henry Tomes, Reece Leverton, Yarin Evans and Jake O’Gorman.
So, Long Lane near Telford is certainly the place to be this coming Sunday as the destination of the 2019 AMCA British Motocross Championship titles are finally decided. The postcode for satnav users to help them find the venue is TF6 6HR. Words and image by Mike Wood.