Some of the closest racing of the 2023 Arenacross Tour was to be found amongst the determined Pro-Am warriors and the stars of tomorrow battling through the Youth Divisions. Here’s the story of how they got there and what they’re aiming for next!
Words: Ben Rumbold, Images: Arenacross UK
Arenacross, just like its parent sport Motocross, is about so much more than the very fastest riders. There is a massive backbone community who just love it, pour all their money and free time into it, and make it a brilliant family atmosphere in caravans and motor homes all over the country. So why not involve these keen Amateurs and ambitious Youth riders into Arenacross? Many families have both fathers, sons, and yes mothers and daughters racing across any given weekend. It’s a vital part of the dirt bike world and it’s fantastic to see this side of it throughout the Arenacross Tour.
The “Pro-Am” class is made for clubman racers who have to work for a living during the week (although many Pro racers still have to as well), but want to get stuck into this sort of action at the weekend! You might see more of a mix of machinery here, as some racers prefer the lighter or less powerful machines to make it less physically demanding, as many simply cannot put in the same amount of training as the Pro riders do.
All-Welsh Battle
In the 2023 Pro-Am Championship, Welsh wizards Sion Talbot & Josh Greedy (younger brother to Pro rider Ashley) took the Pro-Am title down to the wire, separated by just two points going into the last race. Talbot won that final encounter to take the Championship from Josh by a single point at the end! What’s even more remarkable is that, both sponsored by Darjen Engineering, they went back to the same pit box to laugh about it after!
“That final race was mega,” says Josh, “the whole atmosphere and experience you get with Arenacross, especially in the time of year when you would normally be killing your bike in muddy practice sessions, is why I keep returning each year. You’re in the big cities, on professional tracks, comparing your lap times with the Pro boys, it’s enjoyable for everyone.”
Sion is back to defend his title, proudly wearing the #1 plate for the season, but Josh will be back as well to resume the battle! Sion has joined Ash in a few recent beach races so fitness shouldn’t be a problem, and for sure both he and Josh will be bending the older brother’s ear for some tips on each circuit!
The AX Futures class, for riders between 15 & 21 years old, also sees the reigning Champion back to defend his title, in the shape of Joel Fisher on the #711 KTM. Joel’s strength is his starting prowess, and in the outdoor National Championships he has been a regular front runner in the early stages, ultimately finishing 5th in the 2023 250cc Youth British series. He showed at several points in the season that he can also fight through the pack, and isn’t afraid of forcing his way past other riders if necessary! At Bolesworth in September – a local event for the Cheshire charger – he did win Heat races but eventually would finish in 6th and then 2nd on the two nights of racing enjoyed by the class.
Star of the Future
Joel’s main opposition, and winner of both nights at Bolesworth, is rising Devon-based star Isaac Ash. Isaac won every single main event in the Superminis class in 2023, and carried that speed into the Futures class at Bolesworth, even though he was racing a 125cc two-stroke! He moves up to a 250cc GASGAS for the 2024 campaign and intends to race in America as well this year. Just like our Pro Champion Tommy Searle, he rides with the #100, and regularly trains with the Clayton brothers at Wheeldon Off-Road Centre in Totnes, where he also won the EXGB electric indoor showdown, going unbeaten of course, in November! We have a seriously hot prospect for the future on our hands here, a true indoor specialist in the making, and as he grows older, bigger, and stronger, he is truly becoming more and more spectacular to watch.
The Small-Wheel 85cc class races in with the Big-Wheels as part of the AX Supermini events, and 2023 Champion Archie Edwards battled all year with Arthur Moore and Olivia Reynolds for that title, regularly getting amongst the top 6 or 7 Big-Wheel riders even with the obvious machine and physical disadvantages of being the younger rider.
At just 14 years of age, Archie has the attitude of a Pro rider, and raced for the highly professional ASA United GASGAS team last year alongside Pro star Jack Brunell. He is back this year but now on a Big-Wheeled machine to challenge for top honours in the Superminis!
The Younger Ones
The AX65 class was won in 2023 by one of the fastest pre-teens in the country, Wolverhampton wonder Casey Lister. Casey has won more National level races on a 65cc bike, including the last two Weston Beach Races, than anyone else during the last two years, but somehow has just fallen short of winning the outdoor British Championship.
He had no such problem in Arenacross however, winning all but one race during the whole tour (the 65 class races twice at each event), to win by a considerable points margin from young John Slade, the #288 rider, who returns this year to try and go one better.
Casey won’t be on the 65 anymore, having now turned 11 he has bypassed the SW85 machine to move straight onto a Big-Wheeled bike with Chambers Racing for the 2024 season. Not keen to immediately launch over the same jumps as the other Supermini riders so soon, Casey and his family have agreed that he will sit out AX this year until he has built up more experience. He certainly will be one to watch in the future.
Finally, last year’s AX-E5 Champion Austin Edwards – no relation to Archie – moves up to the AX65 class after touring not only the UK but also much of Europe to compete in as many top electric bike races as possible while he was still young enough. He has been seen sending it across GP-level double jumps around circuits such as Teutschenthal in Germany, Xanadu-Arroyomolinos in Spain, and as many Dutch sand circuits as you can shake a stick at. Moving to the geared 65cc machine should not be an issue for the cheeky kid who has all the ability and the promise you could wish for in an 8-year-old racer.
