Finally, after months of hype and anticipation, the MX Nationals will fire into life on Saturday at the popular circuit of Culham. With two hundred and forty riders raring to go, the opening round promises to be exhilarating.
Undoubtedly, the greatest draw is Max Anstie – the Bike It Cosworth Yamaha rider will make a wildcard appearance at Culham. Max (and his team) is using the event as an opportunity to test the new 2014 Yamaha in race conditions before the GP of Brazil next weekend. It is the battle between Kristian Whatley and Anstie that has left most fans watering at the mouth, as the two should be fairly matched! With Anstie on the smaller 250f, and Whatley on the 450f, it will be intriguing to see who comes out on top.
Of course there will be a lot of MX1 and MX2 riders that will want to steal a victory over the course of the weekend. Elliott Banks-Browne and Brad Anderson (the Buildbase Honda duo) will be looking to build on their recent run of good form – either rider could make history as the first MX Nationals winner! Neville Bradshaw, Bryan Mackenzie and Steven Lenoir will be some of the MX2 frontrunners that will be hoping to claim bragging rights by beating one of the established 450f riders.
Potentially, there could be an underdog that comes from nowhere to challenge the top guys. The ‘Fastest 40’ format means that surprises like this are imminent – everyone gets a shot! It is an exciting prospect for every fan out there, as new talent is surely going to be discovered.
It isn’t just about the pro class though! There will be a lot of other classes taking to the track throughout the weekend. Of course, there will be the support class, which is going to be full of the forty riders that did not quite make it into the ‘Fastest 40.’ The 2 Stroke class will be a favourite amongst fans – it is full of big hitters. The Under 15 and MXY2 classes are a chance for everyone to see the stars of tomorrow; there are a lot of very fast guys that will be vying for those two championships. Finally, there is the Clubman class, as well!
If you are going to Culham this weekend, it will cost just £6 to get in, with £1 of that going to charity. Kids ten and under get in for free, too!