Buildbase Honda Jake Nicholls hasn’t placed a wheel wrong since turning his back on the MXGP world scene, and will aim to keep his perfect score alive as the fourth of the six-round Michelin MX Nationals British Championship takes place at the up-rated Sherwood MX Track at the weekend. However, this is an all-new track to him and so could perhaps prove to be interesting, particularly for closest rival Elliott Banks-Browne who is familiar with the track. Banks-Browne is still carrying a wrist injury but is adamant he will give it one hundred per cent around the fast-flowing Sherwood circuit. Behind them, Micky Eccles (Manchester M/Cs Husqvarna) will be looking to keep them honest.
News is that Kristian Whatley (Rob Hooper Yamaha), is back and fit and will be aiming to put his name on the MXN scoreboard this weekend. In Pro MX2, Brad Anderson (Verdesports Substance KTM) has been flying on his lone two-stroke, he leads Josh Gilbert – who has switched teams from Honda Adventure Centre to Dave Thorpe’s Buildbase Honda – and Lewis Tombs (Putoline Planet Racing).
The track has something for all levels of riders, which is just as well seeing as the ‘Nationals’ is unique in that it provides an official British Championship for youth riders on SW85s, right through to the very best motocross Pros the UK has to offer. Whatever their ability, they all take to the same deep sand corners, with some hard-packed sections thrown in, soil jumps – sharpened up by track builder Alfie Smith to increase airtime, and plenty of passing places. Improvements to the viewing area too, means that spectators will be able to see most of the track from the paddock.
This is the second time the Michelin-support MX Nationals series has visited the Nottinghamshire circuit, located to the north east of Mansfield, and the action on the track is anticipated to be as blistering as the high-20 degree weather forecast. But, according to track manager Barry Dring, dust won’t be a problem as with two huge bowsers on site, he and his team are on stand-by and, if necessary, can get out and dowse the track with up to 4000 gallons of water every twenty minutes!
Timed practice starts at 9am on Saturday, followed by racing at 11am for all classes except the Pros, who get out at 9am for qualifying on Sunday and take to the start line towards the end of the morning’s first block of racing, around 12.30pm.
Weekend tickets are priced at £15 at the gate (children under 12 are free), discounted advanced tickets are available online from www.mxnationals.co.uk The Sherwood venue will be signposted from both the B6035 and A6075. Post code NG21 9HL.
Championship standings after three rounds;
Pro MX 1; 1. Nicholls (Buildbase Honda) 150 points, 2. Banks-Browne (Geartec Husqvarna) 126, 3. Eccles (Manchester M/Cs Husqvarna) 98, 4. Ryan Houghton (Rob Hooper Yamaha) 98, 5. Liam Knight (Trevor Pope KTM) 91, 6. Gert Krestinov (Phoenix Tools Honda) 82
Pro MX 2; 1. Anderson (Verdesports Substance KTM) 144 points, 2. Gilbert (Honda Adventure Centre) 94, 3. Tombs (Putoline Planet Racing) 87, 4. Mel Pocock (Revo Husqvarna) 86, 5. Alexander Brown (Husqvarna) 79, 6. Michael Ellis (ASA P&H KTM) 77
Clubman MX2;1. Harry Foster 222 points, 2. Adam Pierce 200, 3. Joel Rizzi 197
Clubman MX; 1. Aiden Christie 234 points, 2. Guy Prince 208, 3. Jamie McCarthy 189
Expert MX1; 1. Richard Bird 233 points, 2. Ryan Crowder 204, 3 Zac Stealey 176
Expert MX2; 1. Jason Meara 212 points, 2. Josh Coleman 202, 3. Jamie Wainwright 180
MXY2 ; 1. Arran Lee Hanson 246 points, 2. Callum Green 235, Josh Peters 196
MXY1; 1. Joel Rizzi 245 points, 2. Dylan Spenser 187, 3. Kyle McNicol 182
BW85; 1. Ryan Mawhinney 252 points, 2. Jack Grayshon 235, Buster Hart 182
SW85; 1. Bailey Johnston 266 points, 2. Ollie Colmer 227, 3. Arai Elcock 197