It’s another sand-based track for round 2 of the 2024 AMCA British Motocross Championship this weekend, April 20th/21st. Bromsberrow, near Ledbury is the chosen venue and, in this series, supported by Holab Concepts and Joov Sports Products, hopefully it’s going to be another two days of hot action!
Words and Images by Mike Wood
Going back to the opener held at Preston Docks MX on Easter weekend, Wildcard riders were to be very prominent in the combined MX2/Open class. However, they certainly didn’t have it all of their own way as former top ACU rider Ray Rowson got stuck right in having a major say on proceedings. The experienced Honda pilot went onto deservedly top the Open standings ahead of Will Hughes, Mark Roberts, Adam Wells and Harvey Tillotson. In the MX2 section, Wildcards filled the top four places with Liam Gale being the first Championship registered rider home in 5th despite suffering a big last moto crash!
The 125cc Championship and 125cc Youth was also a combined scrap. With Wildcard Jimmy Margetson storming to a quartet of big moto wins, Luke Newman had a great weekend himself, earning 2nd ahead of fellow registered pilots Harry Linton, Charlie Palmer, Wyatt McGregor and Macauley Davies. In the very competitive 125cc Youth contest, registered Ollie Jewitt was in great form to take the overall with Tom Goodfellow, Sebby Moore, Callen Jai Griffiths, Lewis Roberts and Romeo Mead next up. After starting with a 11th overall, 2023 AMCA 85cc Champion Oakley Kettle will be hoping to get right back in the mix this weekend.
In a super BWMA Women’s Championship, Grace Richards leads the way following a brilliant round one showing which saw her storm to a quartet of moto victories. Wildcard Libby Chatburn was runner-up at Preston with the equally impressive Nadiya Jones in 3rd. The standout performer though of the opening weekend was surely young Leah Rees-Evans. On her 85cc machine she took on the big 250F and 125cc 2T brigade and got home in 4th overall! Rheanna Morgan-Rogers, Holly Williams, Ebony Brown, Hannah Jones, Chicory Rainey and Grace Bates completed the top ten. All of the above fast females should be on the start line this weekend and to add just a little bit of extra spice they will also be joined by the 2023 BWMA Champion Marni Saunders!
With three 85cc classes incorporated into the same moto’s, the action is always going to be hot and frantic for 2024 honours! Whilst Wildcard Joel Winstanley-Dawson stormed to BW85cc victory at Preston, last year’s AMCA SW85cc Champion Ryan Jackson showed his intent for the new campaign by bagging a superb runners-up slot as Jenson Clitheroe took 3rd. SW85cc honours at round one went to the very fast Arthur Moore with the first three registered riders home being Freddie Darvill, Jimmy Whiston and Leo Whittle. At Preston there was just two BWMA 85cc Girls on the start-line with the victory going to Lexi Emery ahead of Cameron Mansbridge.
After finishing as runner-up in the 2023 AMCA Vets series, James Lane started his 2024 quest to go one place better by taking all four moto wins during round one at Preston. In the Over 40’s, Adam Wilkinson got home in 2nd overall from Mark Swift. Meanwhile defending Vet’s Over 50’s Champion Matt Ryder was quickly on the gas by bagging top place at Preston with Adrian Lewis and Simon Lane despite a moto three DNF, taking 2nd and 3rd places respectively.
There’s also a new class for 2024 in the AMCA, the Honda Cup, being open to any riders owning a Honda 250F purchased after 2021. With amazing prizes on offer at each round including the glamorous red FLY helmet, the real golden carrot is that the eventual Championship winner will take home a brand new 2025 CRF250R! At Preston, Joshua Fletcher-Williams and Matt Wright took the moto wins with the overall verdict going to Wright.
