Futures Friday: World & British Line-Ups Plus Calendar for March!

Here we go then, March is upon us!  A massive day for the motor trade, look out for those 24-plate cars on the road!  Best of all though, I’m no longer in that industry, so here’s a look at what’s in store for March in the world of MXGP, the British Pro Motocross scene, and finally a calendar to guide you all towards the biggest events of the month!

Words: Ben Rumbold, Featured Image: Dave Rich

MXGP

We’re all packing our bags this weekend in preparation for the mammoth trek to Patagonia, the southern end of the huge country at the southern end of South America! Argentina is roughly twice the length of Great Britain, so once we get to Buenos Aires, it’s a drive across the city to another airport, then off to Bariloche in the south!  Total travel time is roughly 27 hours, but apparently it’s all worth it when you get there!  The list of Officially Approved Teams has been finalised, so here they are!

What’s not to be excited about?! The reigning Champion Jorge Prado carries the #1 plate, maybe in his last season of GP racing! Two five-time World Champions under the age of 30 are lining up, for the first time ever! Jeffrey Herlings and Tim Gasjer could be right there all season long!  Plus French title winners Romain Febvre and Maxime Renaux could be right in the mix, and a sixth World Champion in the line-up, Pauls Jonass, was fast at Hawkstone and a real dark horse!    Plus for British fans Ben Watson has a second year on the factory Beta, and Josh Gilbert embarks on his first full season of GP racing!  Let battle commence!

MX2:

Andrea Adamo came from nowhere to claim the world title last year, and returns to defend it in strong form.  Watch out though for the firing Coenen brothers. Lucas was fast last year and could be faster still, and Sacha looks like a different rider in the official pics! Simon Laengenfelder will be fast, as will Thibault Benistant and Kay de Wolf.  Liam Everts has been hit by a thumb injury and will have to start his campaign at round two.  It could all be about the rookies though, as hot EMX250 imports look to shake it all up! Ferruccio Zanchi was sensational at Riola Sardo in pre-season on the new factory Honda, while Andrea Bonacorsi was strong at the MX of Nations, even on a 450! He has a hot factory Yamaha too, while Marc-Antoine Rossi has all the swagger of a French rising star that’s going places, and could hassle his factory GASGAS teammate as well as all of them!

Bobby Bruce has switched to the green bikes for 2024, and could have a good chance on the Dixon Kawasaki.  And as well as the British rider, you can cheer on a British bike this season! the factory Triumph squad look to hit the ground running with hot Dane Mikkel Haarup and South African Camden McLellan.  Haarup has been right there with the established stars in pre-season, so watch for the slick black machines with the Union Jack logo!

British Championship

The official Dirt Store ACU British Championship is still eight weeks away, but the Scottish Championship begins the week after MXGP, and then it’s back to Hawkstone for the start of the revamped MX Nationals series, now called the Motul Fastest 40!  Running on Saturday for the Pro classes, Sunday for everybody else, that alone will create some intrigue.  Your March calendar is at the bottom of this post, but here are all the players as it looks to be right now, in the order of finishing from last year’s ACU Champs:

MX1:
1. Conrad Mewse – Crendon Fastrack Tru7 Honda.
2. Josh Gilbert – Gabriel SS24 KTM
3. Harri Kullas – Unannounced yet but told Dirt Hub that he won’t be racing outdoors in the UK, with his sights set on the USA.
4. Tristan Purdon – SC Sporthomes Husqvarna.
5. John Adamson – Team Lexa MX, unconfirmed as to which Championships he will be racing in.
6. Evgeny Bobryshev – Not planning on racing in the UK due to moving to Florida.
7. Jamie Carpenter – Goswell JC184 KTM.
8. Brad Todd – Apico/Leatt/Bikesport Honda.
9. Tom Grimshaw – Apico Honda.
10. Tommy Searle – Dirt Store Kawasaki.
11. Liam Knight – Gabriel KTM.
12. Ashton Dickinson – Unannounced, questionable if he’ll line up.
13. Ivo Monticelli – Confirmed as leaving the UK to race for Beta in MXGP & Italy.
14. Martin Barr – Apico Honda.
15. Shaun Simpson – Retired from racing, now Gabriel SS24 KTM Team Manager.
16. Stuart Edmonds – S Briggs Commercials Honda.
17. Jason Meara – Moto-Cycle GASGAS.
18. Dan Thornhill – Chambers Racing.
19. Miro Sihvonen – Not racing in the UK.
20. Callum Green – Crendon Fastrack Tru7 Honda.

NEW INTO MX1: Carlton Husband – Phoenix Tools Even Strokes Kawasaki.
NEW INTO MX1: Sam Nunn – John Banks Off-Road Honda.

MX2:
1. Isak Gifting – Not racing in the UK, moving to MXGP with JK Racing Yamaha.
2. Taylor Hammal – Crendon TRU7 Honda Racing Academy.
3. Elliott Banks-Browne – SC Sporthomes Husqvarna.
4. Bobby Bruce – Big Van World MTX Kawasaki.
5. Jamie Wainwright – Apex Motocross Racing KTM.
6. Carlton Husband – Moving to MX1 with Phoenix Tools Even Strokes Kawasaki.
7. Charlie Heyman – SC Sporthomes Husqvarna.
8. Sam Nunn – Moving to MX1 with John Banks Off-Road Honda.
9. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku – Confirmed as leaving SC Sporthomes Husqvarna for AMA racing.
10. Charlie Cole – Phoenix Tools Even Strokes Kawasaki.
11. Ben Mustoe – Unannounced.
12. Joel Rizzi – Dirt Store Kawasaki.
13. Jack Chambers – Big Van World MTX Kawasaki, uncertain about British Champs.
14. Mel Pocock – Dirt Store Kawasaki.
15. Glenn McCormick – Chambers Racing.
16. Jake Millward – Not racing for 2024 after complications with his injuries.
17. Ben Franklin – Chambers Racing.
18. Bailey Johnston – Unannounced.
19. Joe Brookes – 426 Motorsports KTM.
20. Tommy Searle – see MX1!
21. James Barker – AVT Campers KTM.
22. Alfie Jones – Chambers Racing.
23. Dylan Walsh – Racing AMA Supercross with Host Grindstone Kawasaki.
NEW ARRIVAL – Billy Askew – Big Van World MTX Kawasaki.
NEW ARRIVAL – Cas Valk – Gabriel SS24 KTM
NEW ARRIVAL – Syd Putnam – SC Sporthomes Husqvarna
BACK INTO MX2 – Jake Nichols – Crendon Tru7 Honda Racing Academy.
BACK INTO MX2 – Steven Clarke – SAS TPC KTM.
BACK FROM INJURY – Ollie Colmer – K-Tech Aristocars KTM
BACK FROM INJURY – Kyle McNicol – SAS TPC KTM
BACK FROM INJURY – Liam Garland – SAS TPC KTM
POSSIBLE WILDCARD – Calum Mitchell – Lexa MX Racing but only competing at “selected” British events.

Calendar:

And just like that, my time on the good ship Dirt Hub has come to an end for now.  I have picked up an incredible opportunity with Infront to attend all MXGP rounds and do a ton of media work with them, as well as continue to commentate at the Dirt Store British Motocross Championships.  I just could not commit to work for Dirt Hub full time as well, which is a massive shame as I thoroughly enjoy being part of this site, which will no doubt blaze on without me.  I will still share many things from wherever I am and stay on good terms with the site, but in the meantime I must extend massive thanks to Paul Oughton, who has been absolutely brilliant with me and a pleasure to work with.  If you’re in media, you couldn’t wish for a better boss or teacher.  A bientot, see you out there!

B.