Here’s your weekly update on the British Motocross scene for 2024, with one big team bringing us its full announcement and one of the major players in MX2 giving us a clue!
Words: Ben Rumbold, Featured Image: Deka Davison
The Gabriel SS24 KTM team threw their announcement in last Friday to confirm the rumours that Josh Gilbert will be racing in orange, and on the world stage as well as domestically. They will also bring talented teenage Dutchman Cas Valk into the MX2 British Champs, which will give us a really good benchmark for the home series against the level of EMX250, for which Cas could well be the favourite for.
Obviously this leaves out Tristan Purdon, who publicly thanked Gabriel SS24 KTM for 2023 and said “stoked for what’s coming” with a couple of prayer emojis, but also a Union Jack emoji when he says “looking forward to 2024”, and the multiple South African Champion has confirmed to us that he is staying in the UK.
Bobby Bruce is the other major player to give us some news this week, in that he will not be with ASA United GASGAS for next year. No news of where he’s going but it will need to be someone with clear MX2 World Championship ambition to match his own. There are rumours which suggest he’ll be in green.
We’ve also had confirmation from perennial top ten MX1 man Brad Todd, who is continuing to race a private Honda with support from Apico, DK Off-Road, Bikesport Newcastle and Fountain Builders, amongst many others! Massive thanks to Brad for getting back to us on that, and that he is giving it his all at the age of 27 to make sure that the teams don’t overlook him for 2025! There’s a hard-working underdog to cheer for if you’re hunting for someone to follow next season!
The team that gave Brad some help in 2023, Ultimate Wheels/Thunder Road Honda, have changed their name online to Ultimate Wheels TPC KTM, although any riders have yet to be named.
Miro Sihvonen also replied to our enquiries to state that he’s unlikely to be riding in the UK, after a difficult season on the SC Sporthomes Husqvarna. We wish Miro all the best in the future.
Martin Barr has confirmed that he will racing in 2024, with plans to be announced shortly.
Joel Rizzi was nice enough to advertise Dirt Store on his social media this week, which might give us a clue as to his movements next year, and Alfie Jones has thanked Chambers Racing for their support, plus said that he’s looking forward to working with them again in 2024.
In MX2, sophomore riders Joe Brookes and James Barker have sadly been overlooked by the major teams and are racing independently. Joe is a casualty of the GRT Impact KTM team shifting to green, and will stay in orange with backing from Nationwide Signs Ltd. James, along with sister Lucy who could be a force in WMX, is looking for sponsorship to race in MX2 as well as tackle the Dutch Championship and several EMX250 rounds. If anyone can help these three talented teenagers then look them up, and there will be features on Dirt Hub coming up soon.
Otherwise there is still nothing official from SC Sporthomes Husqvarna, Verde Shiloh KTM, ASA United GASGAS, or Chambers Racing about their vacant positions, so we hope to hear from them soon.
Below is the current state of play for last year’s top riders, plus some new additions. We will keep you posted when anything official gets out there – keep it pointed at Dirt Hub for all things British Motocross from here on in!
MX1:
1. Conrad Mewse – Confirmed as staying with Crendon Fastrack Honda.
2. Josh Gilbert – Confirmed as racing for Gabriel SS24 KTM
3. Harri Kullas – Unannounced, Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha closing down
4. Tristan Purdon – Unannounced, left Gabriel SS24 KTM but due to still race in the UK.
5. John Adamson – left ASA United GASGAS, destination unannounced. Finishing 2023 with PW Racing KTM.
6. Evgeny Bobryshev – Unannounced, possibly staying with SC Sporthomes Husqvarna?
7. Jamie Carpenter – left Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha, destination unannounced, will be an Austrian bike.
8. Brad Todd – Confirmed as staying on a private Honda with support from Apico and Bikesport Newcastle.
9. Tom Grimshaw – left Chambers Racing, destination unannounced.
10. Tommy Searle – left Revo, destination unannounced.
11. Liam Knight – Unannounced, left Gabriel KTM.
12. Ashton Dickinson – Unannounced, possibly staying with TALK Templant KTM?
13. Ivo Monticelli – Unannounced, probably leaving the UK.
14. Martin Barr – Still racing, though unlikely to be with the rebooted Apico Husqvarna squad.
15. Shaun Simpson – Confirmed as retired, now Team Manager of Gabriel SS24 KTM
16. Stuart Edmonds – Unannounced, plans to be revealed soon.
17. Jason Meara – Confirmed as staying with Moto-Cycle GASGAS.
18. Dan Thornhill – Confirmed as staying with Chambers Racing.
19. Miro Sihvonen – Confirmed as leaving SC Sporthomes Husqvarna as well as the UK.
20. Callum Green – Confirmed as moving from TRU7 Honda to Crendon Fastrack Honda.
NEW ARRIVAL – Brian Bogers – Confirmed with Revo GASGAS Racing Team
MX2:
1. Isak Gifting – Moving to a 450 for MXGP, uncertain if staying in the UK.
2. Taylor Hammal – Confirmed as moving to TRU7 Honda Racing Academy in MX2
3. Elliott Banks-Browne – Confirmed as staying in MX2 with SC Sporthomes Husqvarna.
4. Bobby Bruce – Unannounced, definitely leaving ASA United GASGAS.
5. Jamie Wainwright – Unannounced, possibly staying with his own family-backed KTM team?
6. Carlton Husband – Confirmed as staying in MX2 with Phoenix Tools Even Strokes Kawasaki.
7. Charlie Heyman – left TRU7 Honda, destination unannounced.
8. Sam Nunn – Confirmed as having left Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha for Chambers Racing.
9. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku – Confirmed as leaving SC Sporthomes Husqvarna for AMA racing.
10. Charlie Cole – Confirmed as staying in MX2, moving from Blades Bikes to Phoenix Tools Even Strokes Kawasaki.
11. Ben Mustoe – Unannounced, possibly staying with ASA United GASGAS?
12. Joel Rizzi – Unannounced, possibly moving to a Kawasaki as raced at the Coupe de l’Avenir?
13. Jack Chambers – Unannounced, possibly staying with Big Van World MTX Kawasaki, maybe full-time in British Champs?
14. Mel Pocock – Unannounced, likely to be on the same team as Tommy Searle?
15. Glenn McCormick – Unannounced, possibly staying with Chambers Racing?
16. Jake Millward – Unannounced, possibly staying with Verde Shiloh KTM?
17. Ben Franklin – Unannounced, possibly staying with Chambers Racing?
18. Bailey Johnston – Unannounced, possibly staying with Verde Shiloh KTM?
19. Joe Brookes – Confirmed to be racing a KTM backed by Nationwide Signs Ltd.
20. Tommy Searle – see MX1!
21. James Barker – Confirmed as racing privately, looking for sponsors.
22. Alfie Jones – Confirmed as staying with Chambers Racing.
23. Dylan Walsh – Unannounced, possibly going full-time AMA?
NEW ARRIVAL – Ethan Lane – Confirmed with Revo GASGAS Racing Team
NEW ARRIVAL – Billy Askew – Confirmed with Revo GASGAS Racing Team
NEW ARRIVAL – Cas Valk – Confirmed with Gabriel SS24 KTM
BACK FROM INJURY – Ollie Colmer – Confirmed with K-Tech Aristocars KTM
