Hammering into Hawkstone! 2024 AMCA British Motocross Championship Round 5 – Preview
The 2024 AMCA British Motocross Championship, supported by Holab Concepts and Joov Sports Products, will tick off another round in its series this weekend. For round five it’s just a one-day event and three moto’s apiece as the very daunting Hawkstone Park provides the title chasers with what promises to be a very stern challenge!
Words and Feature Image by Mike Wood
Following a very wet round four, which was curtailed early at Lower Drayton, Ray Rowson still tops the Open class charts, a position he has occupied right since the first round of the Championship back in April. During that recent wet round four, Ray’s closest challenger, Will Hughes, won moto two and also claimed the overall verdict. At present, Will is 22 points behind Ray, with Mark Roberts, Harvey Tillotson, Kian Bown and Scooter Webster next up.
Over in MX2, there’s been a change in the Championship leadership following the Lower Drayton event. Previous pacesetter Liam Gale picked up a brace of unwanted DNF, meaning that McKenzie Marshall is now sitting in the top slot. So bad were the round four conditions that McKenzie also recorded a DNF in Moto One before winning Moto Two. That result shows McKenzie holding a 21-point advantage over Liam, Tim Burrows, Adam Nevitt, Samuel Bishop, and Martin Jones.
Despite the sludge at Lower Drayton, 125cc Championship leader Jimmy Margetson was pure class, comfortably storming to big wins in both of the completed moto’s. Equally at home in the wet, Luke Newman chased Jimmy home and is also sitting in 2nd place in the series table at present, 38 points in arrears. In what is always a highly competitive class, Charlie Palmer, Wyatt McGregor and Scott Corfield are still chasing hard and in the mix. Taking the overall win in the 125cc Youth class at Lower Drayton, Ollie Jewitt has reduced Championship leader Tom Goodfellow’s advantage back down to just 10 points. Indeed, Goodfellow actually did not even make the podium last time out with those places going to Lewis Roberts and Ryan Oboye instead. At present, Roberts and Oboye are 6th and 7th, respectively, in the standings as they hunt down Sebby Moore, Cailen Jai Griffiths and Linc Hasted.
After suffering a couple of defeats during round three, BWMA Women’s series leader Grace Richards was right on it again at Lower Drayton. Reeling in and passing her main rival Libby Chatburn in moto one she then controlled the second clash all of the way. At present, Grace holds a 54-point advantage over Libby, with Leah Rees-Evans deservedly sitting in 3rd. The very consistent Ebony Brown, Nadiya Jones, Grace Bates, and Rheanna Morgan-Rogers currently occupy the next four Championship positions. Last weekend at the Acerbis Nationals, Rees-Evans beat both Richards and Chatburn to top spot on the podium but can she now repeat that feat this week at Hawkstone?
Controlling proceedings since round one, Northern Irish pilot Ryan Jackson still leads the BW85cc title chase. On the podiums at Preston Docks, Warmingham Lane and Lower Drayton, consistency is the key word which sees him 35 points better off than Seam Smout. It’s Oakley Skinner currently holding the bronze medal position in the BW85cc contest with Jack Bullock, Jacob Ince and Daniel Sheppard next up. In a dramatic SW85cc affair at Lower Drayton, Alfie Pincher’s moto two DNF meant that he also lost his series lead. Taking the overall win at round four, it’s now Mason Brown topping the Championship but he’s just a single point better off than Pincher so Hawkstone should be very tense and exciting! Also, still very much in the mix for the SW85cc title is Jimmy Whiston, as Leo Whittle, Arthur Moore, Oliver Williams, and co continue to give chase. Just one young Lady is starting in the BWMA 85cc Girl’s series but Lexi Emery is still certainly giving it her all! Really mixing it with the lads at every opportunity, she will eventually be a very worthy winner of that BWMA title.
In the Vets Over 40’s Championship, James Lane continues to march relentlessly onto another AMCA title. So far James has taken overall victory at every round and topped every moto. At present, Adam Wilkinson is James’ closest rival, as Rich Meakin sits in 3rd despite missing Lower Drayton. Over in the Vet’s Over 50’s, Simon Lane is the new leader of the series, just 4 points better off than defending Champion Matt Ryder, with Brian Staples in 3rd.
The Hawkstone AMCA Championship action is completed by the Honda Cup races. After being defeated in the very first race of the series, from there onwards Matt Wright has won six moto’s on the bounce to thus lead the title chase 44 points clear of Ricky Ryder, Mark Allen and Caitlin Newman. In what will be a very busy AMCA event, there’s also a full programme of racing on Saturday as the iconic Shropshire venue hosts the Northern Area FXR Championship.
