Two of Team GB’s four-man Evo squad have been struck down by illness and injury just six days before the event kicks off at Fareligh Castle, and the third rider Billy Mackenzie looked liked he was going to have to drop out too. Kurt Nicoll, is unaffected and has already jetted in from his Californian base for the event.

Team manager Dave King revealed Mervyn Anstie has been sidelined with Covid, as did his son Max in recent weeks. It’s believed he’s over it but is not yet cleared to fly to the UK as he is in America. There is still a chance he will get permission to come to the UK.

Mark Eastwood and Billy Mackenzie both raced the Apico 2-Stroke Festival at the weekend. Eastwood won the last race on Saturday, and went out for practice on Sunday morning but only did a few laps. It’s believed he has an ankle injury so won’t be racing.

Mackenzie led all the races but had a string of mechanical problems and didn’t get to the finish in the last moto. He initially said he was without a fully sorted bike for the weekend’s VMXdN after he lost some rear wheel parts in the race at Sellindge. But today he’s walked the track and found the missing bits so is IN for the event!

King is currently working out a final team line-up.