Thursday February 23, 2012 at 1:18pm
With just over two weeks remaining until the opening round of the ACU Maxxis British Championship fires into action at stunning FatCat Moto Parc, near Doncaster. The deep sandy venue offers the perfect backdrop for what is set to be one of the best British Championship seasons in recent years.
With a number of top class World Championship riders competing the 2012 season in both the MX1 and MX2 classes, competition is sure to be fierce in the battle for championship honours. With no less than 15 major teams, representing all the main manufacturers, all will be looking for victories at the opening round on the 11th March.
In the MX2 class, reigning Champion Arnaud Tonus will want to continue where he left off at the end of 2011, but he will have strong competition from a number of Grand Prix riders and the best of British including his team mate Zach Osborne will be looking to regain the title his won in 2010. The Monster Energy Bike It Yamaha riders however, both have their work cut out battling the likes of Buildbase Honda’s Nicolas Aubin and last year’s runner up Elliott Banks Browne on the HM Plant KTM UK. Other riders looking to kick start their seasons will be Ray Rowson, Bryan MacKenzie, Mel Pocock along with Stuart Edmonds and many others.
Even with the departure of reigning Champion Brad Anderson to Australia, the 2012 MX1 Championship is looking stronger than ever. Grand Prix stars such as Kevin Strijbos, Matiss Karro, and former British MX2 Champion Shaun Simpson will all be planning to start the season on a high. PAR Honda’s Kristian Whatley and Maxxis Henderson LPE Kawasaki’s Martin Barr will both want to take over at the top of the tree. Other riders looking to start well will be sand specialist Marc De Reuver, four times British MX2 Champion Stephen Sword, Gert Krestinov, Alex Snow, Nathan Parker and many, many more.
The opening round at FatCat Moto Parc also marks the start of the Veteran’s Championship, where Greg Hanson will be defending his title against World Championship runner up Phil Mercer, Brian Wheeler and Phil Lewis.
All the action starts at 9am Sunday 11th March with the MX2 practice. The first of eight races of Europe’s Premier Domestic Championship will be kicking off at 12:15pm with the MX2 action. For further information please check the Maxxis British Championship website www.mxgb.co.uk.