It’s a big weekend for the youth and amateur riders of the Arenacross British championship this weekend as it all comes to a head for the final round at Manchester’s AO Arena this Saturday night.
As good as the pro racing has been throughout the tour, the youth and amateur classes have been equally entertaining, and likewise the racers have been equally as committed, leaving it all out on the track each and every time. That’s why across all the youth and amateur classes it’s still all on the line regarding the Arenacross British titles going into the final round.
In the ‘Mini’ 65cc class it looks like a two-horse race for the championship. Mason Staddon has ridden immaculate all tour, and his level of consistency has been incredible. In the 10 races to date he’s yet to finish outside of the top two, taking five wins along the way. The only other rider to win races ahead of him has been Cameron Berry but unfortunately for Cameron he hasn’t been able to match Mason’s consistency and his 11th place in the first race of the championship has made the difference. There’s just 12 points between them with two races to go. Sitting third in the championship is Frank Bishop, who has been on the box in third each time out since round two. He’s 40 points off the lead so mathematically he can still win the championship if an unlikely disaster strikes both Staddon and Berry. Bishop has a 33-point gap over Preston Killoran in fourth who in turn is five points ahead of Alfie Workman.
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In the ‘Supermini’ 85cc class John Slade leads the championship by 16 points over George Cherry. If Slade can hold Cherry at bay, it would be a historic victory in Arenacross as it would be the first time a ‘small wheeled’ Supermini racer will win the class.
It’s John’s first year in the Supermini class after moving up from the ‘mini’ 65cc class as the current champion and he’s on track to make it back-to-back titles as one of Arenacross’ brightest prospects. Both riders have clashed bars several times this year and will likely again this weekend in Manchester. Cherry has made a couple more costly mistakes than Slade, most notably not starting one race that enabled John to open up a workable gap at the top going into the last round. 26 points off the lead is third place Oliver Williams who has had two third and second place overall finishes since the opening round. Chasing him down is Elvis Totney who picked up his first race win last time out in Aberdeen, then backing it up with second to find form going into the final round. Fifth in the standings is Corey Heffenan, who is 53 points behind Totney.
The ‘Futures’ class is all set for one hell of a final round showdown shootout between championship leader Issac Ash and Harry Lee. With just six points separating them after another epic round of racing last time out in Aberdeen it’s going to be a pressure cooker situation, and a lot will hinge on who draws first blood in the first of two races in Manchester’s AO Arena. Expect Lewis Spratt and Austin Beasty, who sit third and fourth in the championship respectively, to be in the mix and potentially play spoiler for Ash or Lee. Both Spratt and Beasty still have a long shot at the championship win and with only nine points between them for third in the championship they will just as amped to take the win. No doubt, the Futures class will again deliver a brilliant couple of races.
As will the amateur class, which has witnessed brilliant racing right from the get-go when the championship kicked off in Birmingham back at the beginning of January. Out of all the championships, this one is the tightest, with just one point separating Raife Broadley and Louis Brookes! What also adds to the drama of the battle and brings an interesting contrast is the fact Broadley is racing a 250cc 2 stroke, while Brookes is racing a Stark Vark. The two of them are evenly matched and both will be going into the final round this weekend knowing they need to bring their A game and not make any mistakes. The tension will be palpable, and just to add to the excitement further, Sion Talbot and Adam Wells are tied on points in third and fourth! Like some of the youth classes, on paper they both still have a shot at the title but it’s unrealistic to think either of them could be crowned the 2025 amateur class champion and the reality is they’ll be concentrating on their own personal fight for third in the championship. Fifth placed Luke Bull will want to finish the tour strong after already having a couple of third placed finishes along the way.
It’s going to be one hell of night of racing to celebrate the 100th night of Arenacross and bring the curtain down on the 2025 Arenacross British championship at the AO Arena, so make sure you’re there to see the drama unfold across the youth, amateur and pro classes. Not forgetting the awesome FMX athletes, the Fuel Girls, the ‘Amped road to Manchester’ kids balance bike race and the ‘Celeb’s go racing’ minibike race which will add to the party atmosphere.
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Standings
Words and Images by AX World Tour
