The Michelin MX Nationals 2018 British Motocross Championship kicks off at the Cadders Hill circuit at Lyng in Norfolk over the weekend of the 7th and 8th of April, taking ultra-competitive, top-level championship racing to East Anglia for the first time this year.
The UK’s largest motocross series has switched to the MC Federation for 2018. It continues to build upon its impressive track record of running ‘a people’s championship’ suitable for riders of all abilities, from grass-roots right the way through to international-level pros.
The MX Nationals was introduced back in 2014, and now enters its fifth season with a six-round British Championship, each crammed with a two-day programme of racing at the country’s leading motocross circuits. With a packed grid across no fewer than 10 classes, it boasts the largest entry of riders across the sphere of the British motocross race scene with classes catering for SW/BW 85, MXY1 and 2, MX1 and MX2 Clubman, MX1 and MX2 Expert and the Pro MX1 and MX2 ‘Fastest 40’.
The UK’s top teams and riders will line up for the opening round at Lyng. Revo Husqvarna UK’s Mel Pocock – reigning MX Nationals Pro MX2 champ, and Martin Barr – third in Pro MX1 last year, both fresh from EMX250 success, are already showing their early-season form. They’ll be joined in the Sunday’s two ‘Fastest 40’ motos by 2017 Pro MX1 runner-up Elliott Banks-Browne (Geartec Husqvarna), as well as Pro regulars Josh Gilbert (Honda Adventure Centre), Lewis Tombs (Planet Husqvarna), Jake Nicholls (Buildbase Honda), Gert Krestinov (Phoenix Tools Honda), Kristian Whatley (Rob Hooper Yamaha), James Dunn (GL12 Racing). Moving up from the Experts are 2017 class winners Declan Whittle (Herts MX Husqvarna) and Glenn McCormick (Norman Watt KTM) who could well upset the established order of play in the Pro class, whilst leaving the field wide open in the Experts.
All classes are fit to burst with racing talent and plenty of new and returning faces to keep things interesting. A couple of fast girls will be mixing it with the boys with Gabby Hamlet in Clubmen MX2 and, over in the youth ranks, Cristina Palmer will be lining up in a strong field of SW85 mini-pilots.
Spectator weekend tickets, representing amazing value for the level of racing on offer, are just £12 when bought in advance from www.mxnationals.co.uk or £15 on the gate. Children aged 12 and under go free. Camping is available from Friday onwards for only £10. There’ll be on-site facilities as well as refreshments and trade stands.
Practice starts at 9am on both Saturday and Sunday with the first Pro Race starting at 12pm on Sunday.
Michelin MX Nationals British Championship calendar;
April 7th/8th – Lyng, Norfolk
May 19th/20th – Preston Docks, Lancashire
May 26th/27th – Hawkstone Park, Shropshire
June 30th/July 1st – Sherwood Motoparc, Nottinghamshire
July 14th/15th – Canada Heights, Kent
For more information visit www.mxnationals.co.uk