As we reach another Futures Friday in the lead up to Christmas, it is now less than a month away from the start of Arenacross, so that line-up is now nearly complete, and there have been a few moves this week in the outdoor Motocross paddock too. So here is a summary to show you where they currently sit for 2024.
Words: Ben Rumbold. Featured Image: Arenacross UK
Arenacross:
With a solid line-up consisting of both reigning British Champions, a few indoor specialists on new machinery, seasoned pros plus AX newcomer Harri Kullas, Arenacross really is something to look forward to and we will be building things up before the action starts on the 6th of January from Manchester’s AO Arena. Here is the rider line-up as it stands:
Updated Arenacross Riders & Teams:
FUS March Geartec Racing
1. Harri Kullas
2. Elliott Banks-Browne
3. Jake Preston
Dirt Store Kawasaki
1. Tommy Searle
2. Mel Pocock
Stark Future
1. Jack Brunell
2. Thomas Do
3. Eddie Jay Wade
Crendon TRU7 Honda Racing
1. Conrad Mewse
2. Jake Nicholls
Mark McCann 64 Youtube Channel
1. Dylan Woodcock
2. Adam Chatfield
SC Sporthomes Husqvarna
1. John Adamson
2. Charlie Putnam
S Briggs 10 Central Honda
1. Ashley Greedy
2. Matt Bayliss
AJP Racing Suzuki
1. Ben Clayton
2. Jayden Ashwell
Team Geartec Norman Watt Racing
1. Luke Burton
2. James Mackrel
SR75 Suzuki Racing
1. Jake Shipton
2. TBA
Armor Vision Racing
1. Nev Bradshaw
2. TBA
When it comes to the Motocross season, the Arenacross line-up gives us a couple of clues as to where a couple of riders might be based. SC Sporthomes Husqvarna are joining the indoor series with Charlie Putnam and John Adamson, the two riders who went to the USA with them in 2023, so although it hasn’t been announced yet, we can probably safely say that reigning Scottish Champion Adamson will be on the white bikes for the summer as well. As a fan of Hawkstone it will be interesting to see if he will make the overnight journey from the final round at Wembley to line up at the International the very next day!
That is something that Harri Kullas has already committed to doing, suggesting that he could be racing in the UK come the summer. He has stated that the deal with FUS Marsh Husqvarna is for “the winter only”, so we can only wait and see if Harri will grace the British Championships with his presence again in 2024.
Tristan Purdon has confirmed that he will be here, and has signed for SC Sporthomes Husqvarna, but as yet there is no word on Evgeny Bobryshev. Charlie Putnam will be with them again for sure, and in fact younger brother Syd has just had an encouraging result for the team by winning the Mini-Olympics Amateur National event in the USA!
Joe Brookes has been confirmed as riding for the 426 Motorsports team, a squad started by Conrad Mewse in 2022 with support from Stebbings Car Superstore, and who took the MX2 title last year with Isak Gifting. The Swede has been signed by JK Racing Yamaha in Italy, so sadly it’s unlikely we’ll see him in the UK next year.
Chambers Racing have confirmed that Sam Nunn will be with them in MX2, and Dan Thornhill stays with them for MX1. An interview with another site suggests that Ben Franklin and Glenn McCormick will also stay with the team in MX2, and Henry Siddiqui has also been picked up, but for which championships we are not sure.
Jamie Carpenter’s turbulent winter has eventually settled on running a team for himself, and the SAS TPC KTM team will run Steven Clarke in MX2. There is no word from the Ultimate Wheels camp for the moment. Also still quiet are ASA United GASGAS, Verde Shiloh KTM, TALK Templant KTM, and the Big Van World MTX Kawasaki squad who are rumoured to have picked up a big British talent for the new year!
Here is the line-up as it stands. Next week we will update the calendar for the year to show you where everything sits there, unless we see some major news on the team front instead.
MX1:
1. Conrad Mewse – Confirmed as staying with Crendon Fastrack Honda.
2. Josh Gilbert – Confirmed as moving from Crendon Fastrack Honda to Gabriel SS24 KTM
3. Harri Kullas – Racing Arenacross & Hawkstone with FUS Marsh Husqvarna, but says that the deal is “winter only”.
4. Tristan Purdon – Confirmed as moving from Gabriel SS24 KTM to SC Sporthomes Husqvarna.
5. John Adamson – ran a PW Racing KTM for winter, 2024 Unannounced but racing Arenacross with SC Sporthomes Husqvarna.
6. Evgeny Bobryshev – Unannounced, possibly staying with SC Sporthomes Husqvarna?
7. Jamie Carpenter – Confirmed as racing privately under his own JC184 KTM banner.
8. Brad Todd – Confirmed as staying on a private Honda with support from Apico and Bikesport Honda.
9. Tom Grimshaw – Confirmed as moving from Chambers Racing to Apico Honda.
10. Tommy Searle – Confirmed with Dirt Store Kawasaki in MX1.
11. Liam Knight – Unannounced, possibly staying with Gabriel KTM?
12. Ashton Dickinson – Unannounced, possibly staying with TALK Templant KTM?
13. Ivo Monticelli – Confirmed as leaving the UK to race for Beta in MXGP & Italy.
14. Martin Barr – Confirmed as staying with Apico Factory Racing as they move to Honda.
15. Shaun Simpson – Confirmed as staying with Gabriel SS24 KTM but as Team Manager only
16. Stuart Edmonds – Unannounced, possibly staying on a private Honda with S Briggs Commercials?
17. Jason Meara – Confirmed as staying with Moto-Cycle GASGAS.
18. Dan Thornhill – Confirmed as staying with Chambers Racing.
19. Miro Sihvonen – Unannounced, but likely to be moving away from British racing.
20. Callum Green – Confirmed as moving from TRU7 Honda to Crendon Fastrack Honda.
NEW ARRIVAL – Brian Bogers – Confirmed at Revo GASGAS Racing.
MX2:
1. Isak Gifting – Confirmed as moving to MXGP with JK Racing, 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 in MX2.
4. Bobby Bruce – Unannounced but confirmed as 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 – leaving TRU7 Honda, destination unannounced.
8. Sam Nunn – Confirmed as leaving 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 – Confirmed with Dirt Store Kawasaki.
13. Jack Chambers – Unannounced, possibly staying with Big Van World MTX Kawasaki, maybe full-time in British Champs?
14. Mel Pocock – Confirmed with Dirt Store Kawasaki.
15. Glenn McCormick – Confirmed as staying with Chambers Racing.
16. Jake Millward – Unannounced, possibly staying with Verde Shiloh KTM?
17. Ben Franklin – Confirmed as staying with Chambers Racing.
18. Bailey Johnston – Unannounced, possibly staying with Verde Shiloh KTM?
19. Joe Brookes – Confirmed for 426 Motorsports KTM.
20. Tommy Searle – see MX1!
21. James Barker – Confirmed as racing a KTM privately but looking for more sponsors!
22. Alfie Jones – Confirmed as staying with Chambers Racing.
23. Dylan Walsh – Confirmed in AMA Supercross with Host Grindstone Kawasaki.
NEW ARRIVAL – Ethan Lane – Confirmed with Revo GASGAS Racing in MX2.
NEW ARRIVAL – Billy Askew – Confirmed with Revo GASGAS Racing in MX2.
NEW ARRIVAL – Cas Valk – Confirmed with Gabriel SS24 KTM.
BACK INTO MX2 – Steven Clarke – Confirmed with SAS TPC KTM.
BACK FROM INJURY – Ollie Colmer – Confirmed with K-Tech Aristocars KTM
POSSIBLE WILDCARD – Calum Mitchell – Confirmed with Lexa Racing but only competing at “selected” British events.
