It’s been a year since Jeffrey Herlings started in a major motocross race. After breaking his heel in a pre-season test a year ago, he’s had a long time to recover from surgeries and to get fit ready for 2023. He was supposed to make his return at the start of February in an international, but pulled out with flu. He competed in a local race in Holland last week and trounced the field, of course. That means the first time anyone will see him race against international-class riders since the end of 2021 will be at the Hawkstone Park International – a race he excels at and loves. And he’s keen to prove he’s lost none of his speed.
In fact, the last time he raced in GPs was the final-round showdown between Herlings and title rival Romain Febvre in the last MXGP round of 2021 in Italy. At that round, Herlings edged out the French Kawasaki rider to take the title. Febvre broke his leg a few weeks later so his 2022 season was in tatters, too. Although he did come back strong when he finally raced again.
“I am super excited to come and race again at Hawkstone Park, it is one of my favourite tracks in the world and I am excited to fight for the win again and I can’t wait to meet and see all the British fans after being away from racing for a year and that I am excited to see where we are at after such a long time off,” said Herlings.
So it’s a replay of that incredible 2021 MXGP showdown as Febvre will bring his factory Ice One Kawasaki to Hawkstone Park for the first time and will face his rival. It’s going to be a showdown that answers many questions about the speed and fitness of both men.
Of course, there is a lot of competition for both riders, such as factory Yamaha rider Glenn Coldenhoff who is a master in tough, sandy conditions that are likely to face all the competitors at the Salop circuit. Other rides include Adam Sterry, Shaun Simpson. Harri Kullas, Dylan Walsh, Mikkel Haarup, Kay Karssemakers, Joel Rizzi, Alvin Ostland, Jake Millward, Dan Thornhill and Tom Grimshaw. And Jake Nicholls, fresh from his Arenacross campaign, is a late entry in the MX2 class on his Tru7 Honda.
And this year it will be a bit different in terms of the MX1 and MX2 invitation-only classes. In 2023, there will be a mix 20 of the best MX1 riders with 20 of the best MX2 riders in the main races, but each class will be scored individually, and points and prizes awarded per class. The Super Final will also be mixed with the MX2 riders having a 3–4 second advantage like in previous years with the results decided as they cross the line. The support classes will be an adult mixed class and an EMX125 class.
There is no live stream of the event this year so the only way to see it is to be there! If you’re a motocross fan, you owe it to yourself!
FAQs
The postcode is SY4 4NA.
Dogs – Yes they must be kept on a lead, all mess must be cleared up and they must be friendly and fine around bikes.
Gates open noon Saturday for campers, 7:30am Sunday 26th
£40 adults, £5 kids 5 – 15
Card machines and Apple Pay don’t work on the gate. There are no advanced tickets.
The hill should be in all being well
Please do not litter at the track or on the lanes up to the track – this is so important to respect the neighbours and land owners please
Timetable
Saturday 25th February
2.00 – 4.00pm Technical Control
Sunday 26th February
7.45 – 8.45am Technical Control
9.00 – 9.25 Adult Support Practice & Qualifying
Up to 5 minutes start, 5 minutes free, 15 minutes timed.
9.30 – 9.55 EMX 125cc Practice & Qualifying
Up to 5 minutes start, 5 minutes free 15 minutes timed
10.00 – 10.30 MX1/MX2 International Practice & Qualifying
Up to 5 minutes start, 10 minutes free, 15 minutes timed.
10.40 Adult Support Race 1 15 minutes + 1 lap
Interval
12.00 EMX 125 Race 1 15 minutes + 1 lap
12.30 International MX1/MX2 Race 1 25 minutes + 1 lap
1.05 Adult Support Race 2 15 minutes + 1 lap
1.30 EMX 125 Race 2 15 minutes + 1 lap
1.55 International MX1/MX2 Race 2 25 minutes + 1 lap
2.30 Adult Support Race 3 15 minutes + 1 lap
2.55 EMX 125 Race 3 15 minutes + 1 lap
3.25 MX1/MX2 Superfinal 25 minutes + 1 laps
MX1 International
No Name Machine cc Country
3 Romain Febvre Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 450 France
7 Louie Kessell Ultimate Wheels/Thunder Road Completely Motorbikes TMS Media Honda 450 England
16 Tom Grimshaw Chambers Racing Gas Gas 450 England
17 Luke Smith Ultimate Wheels/Thunder Road Completely Motorbikes TMS Media Honda 450 Ireland
24 Shaun Simpson Gabriel SS24 KTM 450 Scotland
29 Henry Jacobi Sarholz KTM 450 Germany
32 Brent van Doninck JM Racing Honda 450 Belgium
46 Davy Pootjes KTM 450 Holland
50 Martin Barr Apico Husqvarna 450 Ireland
75 Hardi Roosiorg JWR Honda Racing 450 Estonia
84 Jeffrey Herlings Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MXGP 450 Holland
95 Dan Thornhill Chambers Racing Gas Gas 450 England
115 Ashton Dickinson Talk Templant KTM 450 England
134 Liam Knight KTM 450 England
141 Tristan Purdon Gabriel SS24 KTM 450 S Africa
151 Harri Kullas Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha 450 Estonia
161 Alvin Ostlund JWR Honda Racing 450 Sweden
184 Jamie Carpenter Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha 450 England
259 Glenn Coldenhoff Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MXGP 450 Holland
811 Adam Sterry Sarholz KTM 450 England
MX2 International
No Name Machine cc Country
11 Mikkel Haarup Big Van World MTX Kawasaki 250 Denmark
25 Jamie Law McVities Husqvarna 250 England
32 Calum Mitchell Lexa MX Racing Husqvarna 250 England
40 Jamie Wainwright WPH/SBE Engineering/Pure Building/Redline KTM 250 England
45 Jake Nicholls Tru7 Hacing Academy 250 England
53 Dylan Walsh GTCI Revo Kawasaki 250 England
119 Bailey Johnston VERDE SHILOH KTM 250 England
195 Rob Clitheroe Dickinson Tool Hire Yamaha 250 England
300 Ben Franklin Chambers Racing Gas Gas 250 England
303 Jake Millward VERDE SHILOH KTM 250 England
337 Glenn McCormick Chambers Racing Gas Gas 250 Ireland
365 Sam Nunn Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha 250 England
410 James Barker MGMX KTM 250 England
411 Shaun Mahoney Gabriel Insulations KTM UK 250 Wales
456 Ollie Colmer Talk Templant KTM 250 England
717 Calum Marriott Team EMX Academy France Husqvarna 250 France
719 Jimmy Margetson AJP Racing Husqvarna 250 England
731 Alfie Jones Chambers Racing Gas Gas 250 England
817 Raf Meuwissen Young Motion Powered by Resa Yamaha 250 Holland
912 Joel Rizzi Riley Racing Yamaha 250 Wales
Adult Support Race
No Name Machine cc Town
10 Harvey Cashmore Chambers Gas Gas 250 Compton
11 Rhys Baker
18 Joe Khamouli Triple D Motorsport/Reid Builders/Leach Scrap Metal Gas Gas Kendal
23 Johnjoe Wright Mr Dig/Ninety One Moto Honda 450 Stanley
28 Charlie Griffiths 426 Motorsport KTM 350 Cleobury Mortimer
31 Charlie Whitlow Lancit Haulage Honda 250 Heysham
33 Dan Brough Rutzz.co.uk/Pinewood Energy Racing Yamaha 250 Yarnfield
36 Hudson Roper 3Flo/Madison/Crescent Yamaha blucru 250 Halifax
37 Shane Whitaker Assiette Cat/TVB/PP Training/Owkay Kawasaki 250 Clitheroe
41 Matt Tolley 426 Motorsport KTM 250 Pershore
42 Charlie Razzell PJR Motors Yamaha 250 Bracknell
52 Harry Foster RFX KTM 450 Ormskirk
63 Daniel Arkell PSU Designs Ltd KTM 250 Bromsgrove
70 David Finnamore Ross Quarry Products Ltd Husqvarna 350 Belfast
84 Reece Ross Ross Quarry Products Ltd Husqvarna 250 Belfast
87 Aaron Holden PP Sports powered by Southside MX Honda 250 Diss
95 Brad Thornhill LMC/Radcord KTM 450 Stonehouse
97 Paul Burn DBC Motorcycles/BG Motorsport KTM 350 Milton Keynes
101 Christopher Read MJ Off Road/4gunzmxmidlands Kawasaki 250 Moreton
111 Richy Roberts Rutzz.co.uk/Pinewood Energy Racing Yamaha 250 Bowling Bank
113 Joe Wright SRH Racing KTM 125 Featherstone
123 Dave Hamer Honda 500 Southampton
125 Paul Hubbard Herts MX Honda 450 Diss
131 Ben Zeale Mundell Plant Hire Ltd/JD Racing Gas Gas 250 Torrington
141 Sebastian Berthiaume Advance Shutters Ltd Yamaha 450 Lymington
143 Callum Bircher Mr T`s/Feehily Racing KTM 250 Barrow in Furness
150 Aaron Patstone Brenron/Molson/Kior/Shaw Honda 450 Leamington Spa
171 Arai Elcock KTM 450
211 Joshua Price Jtek/S.T Molloy Honda 450 Wirral
233 Dane Thompson Honda 250 Birkenhead
266 Conor Ellingworth Feehily MX KTM 450 Anglesey
274 Daniel Shutt Shutt Joinery & Construction KTM 250 Ribchester
313 Danny Townsend KTM 250 Burnley
333 Dan Houlker DH Builders/RV Ltd KTM 250
392 Henry Hearn Husqvarna 250 Yiewsley
404 Dominic Newbury 426 Motorsport KTM 250 Swindon
711 Joel Fisher AD Modular/Tech4 MX/Beer Trading KTM 250 Warmingham
841 Ryan Nock Tech MX-VBS-Dynes-KAS Kawasaki 450 Larkfield
855 Ashley Cotterell Internation Wulfsport KTM 450 Cheslyn Hay
999 Conner Challinor AD Modular Ltd Kawasaki 250 Crewe
Reserve
4 Harry Bradley
EMX 125
No Name Machine Town/Country
2 Yarin Evans SRH Racing Team KTM Bridgnorth
3 Lucy Barker MGMX KTM Driffield
5 Jack Brearey NBE Racing Gas Gas Batley
10 Levi Saunders Blue-3 KTM Stockbury
12 Rees Jones ET James Youth Enduro Team Gas Gas Llanidloes
14 Jon Waghorn Elevation – JWS Yamaha Medway
18 Rocco Hands Motobase/C Nunn Academy/J Aim M/Cycles/Besthorpe MX KTM Colchester
20 Alfie Thompson Moto33/Berts Motorcycles KTM Shanklin
21 Emmanuel Bako Betterbrands Petroleum – EMX Academy France – Country Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
24 Sion Wright SRH Racing/C A Wright Construction KTM Builth Wells
25 Harry Bebb Mid Wales Leisure Fantic Llanidloes
40 Ted Deacon Rogue MX/Backyard Design Gas Gas Cheltenham
43 Markuss Kalnins CCM Racing/Loredo Husqvarna Louth
46 Harry Shand KTM Isle of Man
55 Ryan Waggott Team Hutch Racing KTM Carlisle
82 Ashden Barlow 723 Racebikes/TLD/CI Sport/Spy/DEP/KAIS/A Vision Fantic Chelmsford
96 Alfie Crealock-Lovell Marsh MX Husqvarna Port Talbot
99 Jake Walker Mr T`s Racing/SCT/RMJ KTM Wirral
104 Reece Jones KTM Great Houghton
114 Freddie Gardiner Team Matt Gardiner MX KTM Gloucester
118 Max Smith Redline Motorcycles KTM Ashton
121 Max Walsham 121 Stylish Prints OutPatient Network Yamaha Milton Keynes
145 Braidy Tucker
148 Declan Wright SPS Motorcycle/FTS Suspension KTM Sheffield
191 Kayden Smith PP Sports Yamaha Bungay
199 Lewis Bethell Nora CRS/VIP Motocross/EBC Brakes Husqvarna Northampton
226 Sam Hughes Digga Rentals/FIR Racing/Ace Suspension KTM Oswestry
307 Alfie Lewis TA365Roll/Perfect Impressions/ERS Susp Yamaha Ellesmere
323 Beau Brown AGR Motorsport KTM Isle of Man
372 Leon Northall ERS Suspension/Motoverde KTM Ellesmere
433 Kai Thorpe Eastwood Plant Hire Yamaha Eastwood
480 Kasimir Hindesson MotoPalvelu KTM Finland
505 Ben McConville KTM Dromore
526 Cody Spacagna Trevor Pope M/C LRS/Ironsight/King & Stevens KTM Eastleigh
538 Billy Thornton Rapid 538 Clothing KTM York
545 Wesley McGavin KTM Lutterworth
555 Cole McCullough Milwaukee KTM Ireland
654 Jack Dando KTM Westbury
741 Harrison Clarke FBRT/MJW/Syntol KTM Rotherham
961 August Frisk NON STARTER