Following a wet first round of the Maxxis sponsored British Motocross Championships, supported by Pro Clean at the FatCat circuit near Doncaster last month, round two moves to East Anglia on Sunday 14th April at the tough, spectacular Cadders Hill circuit at Lyng in Norfolk.
Apart from the MX1, MX2 and the MX2 Youth classes, the organising Norwich Vikings club are including a Ladies support group, which has created quite some interest.
The MX1 class sees the round one winner, Shaun Simpson, (RFX KTM Racing) in action on the sand-based circuit, on which he has had previous victories, but faces stiff opposition from former champion, Tommy Searle, (Bos Factory Kawasaki). Searle collected 45 points at round one, just two points behind Simpson. Local East Anglian, Lewis Tombs, (Buildbase Honda), surprised many people at the FatCat event by claiming 3rd overall. Normally recognised as an MX2 rider, Tombs is currently riding as a stand in for the injured Jake Nicholls on the 450cc Honda, and already has had success on the larger bike.
Holding 4th place is Sheffield's Jake Millward, (Chambers Husqvarna), and lying in 5th after one round is the Essex star, Ryan Houghton, (RHR Yamaha). Hopefully at Lyng, could mark the return of local ace, Elliott Banks-Browne, (Geartec Husqvarna), who has missed the start of the year with a wrist injury.
In the stacked MX2 class, Dutchman, Bas Vaessen and his young British team mate, Conrad Mewse both top the class with 47 points each on their Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee machines, and the teenager, Mewse, will want to hold onto his 2018 British title. Revo Husqvarna's Swedish star, Alvin Ostlund is currently 3rd, with his young New Zealand team mate, Dylan Walsh holding down 4th.
The biggest threat though, could come from Buildbase Honda's Cornish star, Josh Gilbert, who was out of luck at FatCat.
Probably the brightest star in the future for British motocross is the young lad from North Wales, Joel Rizzi, who blitzed the first round and is the favourite to repeat another victory at Lyng. Dominic Lancett is second in the MXY2 series and is another to watch for. Eastern youngsters include Suffolk's Sam Nunn and Josh Peters from Essex
Chelsea Gowland starts as one of the favourites in the Ladies races, and Kathryn Booth, returning from racing at the Women’s Grand Prix in Holland, along with Amie Goodlad from Essex should be in the mix.
There are still a few places left in the MXY2 and ladies classes if anyone wishes to contact the ACU for information.