Just like the current hot summer weather, the 2018 AMCA British Motocross Championship is beginning to sizzle before reaching boiling point over the next few weeks! With three rounds remaining in this series powered by Datatag and supported by Dunlop it’s now Josh Waterman, Luke Burton, Richard Cannings, Simon Lane and Joseph Brookes leading the charge towards the titles. This coming Sunday, July 29th, those Championship chasers will come under renewed pressure as the series arrives at Culham Moto Parc in Oxfordshire for the latest adventure!
In MX1, Ashley Greedy was halted by a rear-wheel puncture last time out at Hawkstone as Josh Waterman replaced him at the top of the standings. With a glorious three ride maximum under his belt, the KTM ace leads the way some 31 points clear with Greedy now 2nd and the FUS Marsh MX Husqvarna boy’s Shane Carless and James Dodd the next best. That top four is looking very strong and so it’s going to take a mammoth effort by the chasing pack to now break that dominance and earn an eventual medal position. With the season rapidly reaching the business end Ray Rowson, Gary Gibson, Jansen Day, Andrew Smart and Luke Mellows are still in the mix but will certainly need some big performances in the remaining rounds if they want to keep their challenge alive!
Just nine points separate MX2 series leader Luke Burton and 2nd placed Josh Coleman with current 3rd placed rider Lewis King only a further 7 points in arrears. In what is proving to be an incident packed and very entertaining series, last time out, Burton jumped to the summit with a classy maximum points haul at Hawkstone. However at this event, Coleman was making a comeback following a triple collarbone break and still incredibly took 3rd overall behind King. With now another three weeks of recovery under his belt, expect Coleman to be right on the gas at Culham as he attempts to regain the title chasing advantage. Despite having a rather quiet day at Hawkstone, Jack Gardner still holds a great 4th in the standings from Lee Sealey, Clinton Barrs, Bradley Tranter, Matt Ridgway and Gareth Artus. Adding extra spice into the MX2 mix, James Wainwright the early season Championship leader could well return this weekend after missing the last two rounds due to a wrist injury.
In the 2T title chase there’s certainly no stopping leader Richard Cannings. So far the Yorkshireman has won an incredible 11 out of 12 moto’s and currently sits 79 points clear of an equally consistent Sean Eckersley in 2nd. Eckersley has been on the podium in all four rounds completed and is already himself 84 points better off than Jordan Saunders the 2017 2T runner-up. At present the riders putting pressure on Saunders in the hunt for a medal place are consistently Bradley Doyle, Ashley Benniston, James Lane, Jake Parker, Ryan Zebedee and Adam Hill.
With Terry House suffering a very painful crash last time out at Hawkstone, the advantage in the race for the 2018 Vets title as swung very much in the favour of Simon Lane. The JSR Honda rider having been on the podium in all four rounds now holds a massive 107 point lead over Sean Smith with Gary Jones 3rd and House dropping to 4th. During the Hawkstone action, Gary Davies blasted his Kawasaki to three big wins and despite not contesting the opening two rounds is already up to 14th in the standings, just where will the former multiple AMCA Champion finish in the final table?
The immaculate Joseph Brookes still leads the Youth Championship class having superbly won all twelve moto’s so far! Chasing him though is an equally determined racer in the form of Charlie Palmer, finishing runner-up in all twelve moto’s. Making his first appearance of the season, Jake Randall took 3rd overall at Hawkstone but in the standings it’s still Matt Tolley holding the bronze medal position. Next best in this class at present are Joshua Main, Harry Ridgway, Ben Dutton, Reece Leverton and Joshua Fletcher-Williams.
So, get ready for some great motocross action on Sunday, 29th July at the superb Culham Moto Parc, postcode OX14 3DA with the circuit signposted off the A415 between Abingdon and Clifton Hampden. Words and pic by Mike Wood.