The 2024 ROKiT Weston Beach Race, marking its 41st anniversary, was a landmark event this year. With over 1,400 riders and 72,000 spectators, the iconic race continues to grow, cementing its place as a highlight in the off-road racing calendar.
Words and Images by RHL Activities
The weekend opened on Saturday with a reshuffled format featuring the 125/250cc class. With a field of new riders breaking ground on the track, the challenge was set. In the 250cc category, the newly crowned British champion Reece Jones left no room for doubt, securing a dominant win, finishing a full lap ahead of Finley Evans in second and George Corke in third. In the 125cc class, Charlie Richmond took the overall win with an impressive 26 laps, fending off competition from Drew Stock and Charles Hucklebridge. A notable mention goes to Josh Vail, whose hopes for a podium were dashed due to bike issues in the pits, relegating him to 19th overall. First-timer Jacob Potts put in a solid effort, finishing 10th overall in his first of three races over the weekend.
Saturday also saw the debut of the vintage class, featuring pre-1996 bikes. The inaugural race was well-received by both riders and spectators. Unfortunately, Jacob Potts’ Suzuki couldn’t make the distance. Nev Bradshaw, a seasoned racer and vintage enthusiast, claimed the trophy with 23 laps completed, ahead of Sean Smith and Dean Gray. Special recognition goes to Allan Owens, who balanced his duties in the ‘parc ferme’ with his first ever race, finishing 17th.
The final Saturday event was the highly anticipated quads and sidecars race. With the full track opened for a grueling three-hour endurance challenge, the race divided into quad solo, quad two-man, quad 4×4, and sidecars. Former champions Joe Millard and Brett Wilkinson were tipped to take the win but, after a few years away from the event, they finished third behind the Peters/Williams and Davies/Ferguson teams. Social media favorite Mark McCann, riding alongside Brett Knight, placed 20th after an incident early in the race left McCann without a passenger.
In the quad solo class, Jamie Morgan claimed the top step on the podium after completing 18 laps, beating Zak Orchard. Johnny Kelly rounded out the podium, with last year’s winner Oli Sansom coming in fifth. In the two-man quad category, wildcard entry Dan Thornhill and Ben Webb took the win, followed by the Gove/Hunter and Jones/McCormick teams. Harry Hinkly, representing the event’s title sponsor, finished seventh in the quad 4×4 class, while seasoned racer Lathan Prichard clinched victory ahead of Jamie Shaw and Harry Stevens.
Sunday kicked off with the youngest riders tackling the beach in the 65cc class, known as the “pocket rockets.” British champion Cohen Jagieski put on a masterclass, taking the win with 18 laps, finishing a lap ahead of Tyler Peaty and Elliot Shawyer in second and third. The future of the sport looks bright as this class continues to grow in numbers and talent.
In the 85cc class, split into big wheel and small wheel categories, Blake Ward-Clarke and Casey Lister traded blows throughout the race in the big wheel class. Both riders completed 24 laps, but Ward-Clarke secured the victory, with Connor Watson in third. In the small wheel class, Archie Butterfield took the win, followed by Riley-Ray Barrow and Ollie Trueman.
The weekend closed with the flagship adult solo race, an event that never fails to deliver drama. Reece Jones, fresh from his victory in the 250cc class, competed again, finishing eighth in his debut adult solo outing. Lucy Barker, who also raced on Saturday, was crowned the Factory Image Racing Ladies Champion. American rider Justin Barcia made his first appearance at Weston, finishing a respectable seventh overall. Dan Thornhill, having already taken a podium in the two-man quad race, decided to push himself further by entering the adult solo class, where he finished third, just behind fan favorite Ashley Greedy and late entry Conrad Mewse, who took the top spot. Ricky Wiggins, representing the event’s print sponsor, rounded out the top five. Harry Hinkly completed his weekend with a 253rd-place finish in the adult solo class, riding a Slam 250cc. In the ladies class, Daisy Gough, Anya Colley, and Lucy Barker completed the podium.
With over 650 finishers in the adult solo race, the 2024 ROKiT Weston Beach Race continues to be a proving ground for talent, endurance, and passion for the sport. Another unforgettable weekend in the books, Weston Beach Race solidifies its status as one of the premier off-road events in the world.
To see the Main Solo Race Results >>CLICK HERE<<
To see the Quad & Sidecar Race Results >>CLICK HERE<<
To see the Youth 125/250 Race Results >>CLICK HERE<<
To see the 85cc Race Results >>CLICK HERE<<
To see the 65cc Race Results >>CLICK HERE<<
To see the Vintage Race Results >>CLICK HERE<<
