Futures Friday: British Teams Update, and your Calendar choices!

Evening British MX fans, I trust your week has been good despite the winter beginning to settle in?!

Words: Ben Rumbold, Featured Image: Dave Rich

Until this afternoon, there have been precious few updates on the British scene this week in terms of rider movements.

Perennial contender and three-time MX Nationals Champion Harri Kullas has been confirmed for Arenacross with the FUS Marsh Husqvarna squad.  However, it is clear that there are “no plans for the summer” and the team has up til now run in the AMCA Championships rather than the ACU.  They are moving from that series to the Acerbis Amateur Nationals, which largely clashes with the Dirt Store British Championships through the year.  Maybe we’ll see Harri on a white bike under another awning outdoors?  Time, and eventually the teams, will tell!

Sadly, the announcement of Ivo Monticelli’s move to race the factory Beta in MXGP means that he will be racing in Italy when not on World Championship duty, so he won’t be on the British scene next year – unless the team fancy a wildcard somewhere and bring Ben Watson over too? The invitation’s open boys!

Then this afternoon the welcome news came through that was once Apico Husqvarna has now become Apico Factory Racing Honda. As well as keeping Irish veteran Martin Barr on for the transfer, they have picked up second-year MX1 rider and podium hopeful Tom Grimshaw to race alongside him in both the Dirt Store British Championship and the Fastest 40 series.  “Other selected races” will also be included in their schedule, and for sure both riders enjoyed an outing at VMXdN Foxhill last season.  Whether or not Tom will be able to do a few more GPs like he did last year with Chambers is yet to be seen.  Either way, it’s great to see Apico reboot in such strong fashion and with a solid line-up of riders.

After the run down of the current state of play in the UK, we’ve prepared another Calendar for you, this time showing the choices both Pro and Pro-Am, and even top Youth riders in the UK will have to make in order to focus on winning some silverware in 2024.

Thanks for joining us for our weekly “Futures Friday” update!

MX1:
1. Conrad Mewse – Confirmed as staying with Crendon Fastrack Honda.
2. Josh Gilbert – Confirmed with Gabriel SS24 KTM, also racing MXGP in full.
3. Harri Kullas – Racing Arenacross with FUS Marsh Husqvarna, but unconfirmed if that deal includes the summer season.
4. Tristan Purdon – Unannounced, out of Gabriel SS24 KTM but wants to stay in the UK.
5. John Adamson – ran a PW Racing KTM for winter, 2024 Unannounced
6. Evgeny Bobryshev – Unannounced, possibly staying with SC Sporthomes Husqvarna?
7. Jamie Carpenter – Confirmed as moving to Ultimate Wheels JC184 KTM (formerly Ultimate Wheels Thunder Road Honda).
8. Brad Todd – Confirmed as staying on a private Honda with support from Apico and Bikesport Honda, but looking for more sponsors!
9. Tom Grimshaw – Confirmed as leaving Chambers Racing and signing for Apico Factory Racing 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 with Apico Factory Racing Honda as the team switches from Husqvarna.
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 – 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 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 for a full British season.
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 on private KTM with support from Nationwide Signs Ltd.
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.
NEW ARRIVAL – Billy Askew – Confirmed with Revo GASGAS Racing.
NEW ARRIVAL – Cas Valk – Confirmed with Gabriel SS24 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.

British Calendar: Pro

Following on from our extensive 2024 calendar last week, here is a breakdown of it grouped by Rider Level, so the first one here is set up for the Pro who is contracted to either MXGP and/or the Dirt Store British Championship and Fastest 40 (F40).  These guys might choose to also race the Bridgestone British Masters (BBM), the new Nora92 Pro Champs (NPC), or even take in an AMA National, which we’ve listed if it doesn’t clash with either of the two British series. Many Pro riders have also taken in the Scottish Championship, so that is listed too.

NB: Apart from the opening round on Easter weekend, the F40 series runs with Pro races on Saturday, so and/or is put when they could race two series on the same weekend if they want to put the miles in overnight!

British Calendar: Pro-Am

For Pro-Am riders who will be keen to race a National series, there is plenty of choice.  The Fastest 40 (F40) series will run their Clubmen classes on Sunday.  The Bridgestone British Masters (BBM) also caters for those riders, the Nora92 British Cup (NBC) has expanded to three rounds this season. Plus of course the old faithfuls of the Acerbis Amateur Nationals (AAN), and the AMCA Championships.  When nothing else is on, we’ve put the Dirt Store British Champs as an option for those who fancy a wildcard ride.  The Scottish Champs run lower classes on both days as well as the Pro racers on Sunday.

This could be the biggest battleground of the season, which series will prove to be most popular, and which might struggle.  We hope this helps you plan your year.

British Calendar: Youth

For the countries top Youth racers, there is also plenty of choice.  Not all of these series will run all Youth classes, so always check before you enter.  The very top lads will also do EMX125 or 250, and there’s even an EMX65 & 85 round single-round Championship at Loket in the Czech Republic.  The Dirt Store British Champs will run various classes, not all at every round, although there is a dedicated Youth Only round in May. Again, AMCA Champs have Youth classes, as do Bridgestone British Masters (BBM), Nora British Cup (NBC), and of course the original Schoolboy masters the BSMA.  The new Nora Pro Champs (NPC) will have an EMX-style class, as will the Fastest 40 series. Check the calendar above for the F40 dates.

So there, you go, lots of options throughout the year. Of course, all of these are provisional and many haven’t listed venues yet.  Keep checking Dirt Hub for any calendar dates throughout the season.