Pro Stroke triumphs for Mewse & Askew! 2023 Apico 2 Stroke Festival – Race Report & Results

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The hugely successful Apico 2-Stroke Festival, featuring the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National, returned to Sellindge in Kent last weekend, Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd of July.

Over 300 riders, including reigning and former British Champions, rocked up for the event which featured packed start-lines and non-stop action across a two-day celebration of all old-school style two-stroke motocross and modern-day four-stroke racing. It included ACU British Championship status for the 2-Stroke 125, Open, Evo and Super Evo classes. Its Over 40s Open 2-stroke attracted a packed field and, the Red Bull Noughties welcomed riders with machines from 2000 to 2008. The programme also included youth classes catering for 125, 250F, BW and SW85s.

Energy drinks giant Red Bull is once again supported the Festival over both days, with the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National Clubman MX1/MX2 and the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National, with classes for Pro/Expert MX1 and MX2.

With serious prize money and top-quality products up for grabs the racing was tight and competitive across all classes, giving the record Festival crowd plenty to cheer.

Saturday’s schedule was cut short due to a heavy dump of the wet stuff. The decision was supported by all riders as, thanks to the pre-event preparation and overnight maintenance, the track was in prime condition for the full set of racing on Sunday.

Conrad Mewse, Josh Gilbert and Tommy Searle were the ones to beat in the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National MX1 group. Mewse won both races in convincing style with Gilbert taking the runners-up slot and Searle third in both. Brad Todd was fourth and Martin Barr, who also contested and finished third overall in the British Open Two-Stroke Championship, was fifth.

In his adult debut, youth MXY2 star Billy Askew, is proving to be the one to watch. Having won the first Youth 250F race on Saturday. He fired out of the gate to go second and first and take the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National MX2 overall on Sunday. Dylan Walsh was second overall with a third and second and Josh Spinks, with an opening moto win followed by a sixth, rounded out the podium. Dylan Woodcock finished fourth, followed by Ollie Beamish in fifth.

On the British Championship front, Glenn McCormick cleaned up in the ACU British 125 Two-Stroke Championship with three wins from three starts. Young Wal Beaney took a third and two seconds and Rob Holyoake a second and two thirds. Twenty-seven riders packed out the grid for this popular group which saw former MotoGP race winner Bradley Smith take a solid fifth.

The ACU British Open Two-Stroke Championship was won by local rider Raife Broadley with a fourth place and two wins. Josh Coleman was runner up in all three races with MX1 Apico-supported Martin Barr topping off a busy and productive weekend with a seventh, fourth and third to secure third overall. The opening race of this British Championship class on Saturday was won by Matt Bayliss with Josh Coleman second and Tommy Searle, having a bit of fun and enjoying the sounds and smells of the smokers, in third.

Completing the British Championship classes were the ACU British Evo groups with combined Evo and Super Evo classes. Another local rider Steve Bixby made the British Evo his own by taking all three wins in the Evo Championship. Jon Barfoot went three-two-two to take second and Scott Allen’s sixth, second and fifth earned him third overall. From the world of Quad racing, Sheldon Seal was the runner up in Saturday’s first race. The British Super Evo saw the top three take the same finish positions in each moto with Josh Spinks, who was on fire having also secured third overall in the Red Bull Pro Stroke Nationals MX2, victorious in first place. Rob Holyoake, backing up his British 125 2-Stroke third place with another British podium placing in second and popular Welshman Glen Phillips in third.

Elsewhere in the Apico 2-Stroke Festival field, the Over 40s was won by Michael Chesney with three wins, followed by Paul Moore and Mike Allport. The Red Bull Noughties also had a clear winner with Charlie Nudds taking the honours, Josh Mayo second and Tom Brown third.

Sticking with the Red Bull featured classes, over 40 riders raced the mixed Pro Stroke Clubman MX1 and MX2. Ben Lambert, Paul Barrand and Chris Chapman completed the MX1 podium while Rheis Morter, John Waghorne and Connor Disano took the top steps in the MX2 class.

On the Youth scene, with over 60 riders booked in for the Youth 125 and 250F, the classes were split into A and B groups with qualification on Saturday deciding the grids. The 125 A class was won by Levi Saunders with Travis Laughton second and Max Corke third. Riding in the same group, the 250F was won overall by Liam Bennet, with Jake Cappa second and Reece Hall third. Billy Askew took the win in race one. Blake Monks, Jamie Taylor and Shane Woodsford were the 125 B top three.

The big-wheel and small-wheel 85s rode were out on track together. In the big-wheels, Charlie Richmond took the first two wins and Jamie Keith the third. Robbie Daly posted three third place finishes. The small-wheels was won by Ralph-Jay Holloway with triple wins, Harley Ince was second and Mason Doe third.

In a first for an ACU-supported national motocross event, some 60 junior riders across Autos A and B, Electric E4 and Electric E5, alongside Revvi balance bike 12” and 16” models had a blast on a purpose-built track where they could contest their own races safely away from the main arena. This an area Festival promoter Dave Willet intends to grow and will be working closely with manufacturers and major players within this expanding industry.

Commenting on the seventh successful running of the Apico Two-Stroke Festival featuring the Red Bull Nationals, Willet said; “It’s been an absolute insane month. We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to get everything ready and while it’s been a lot, it’s been so worth it. I can’t express how much I appreciate all the patience and support we’ve had from everyone.

A big thank you to all the individuals, sponsors, and supporters who have helped us out. Without all of you, we wouldn’t be able to bring these events to life. I’m such a big supporter of UK motocross and I’d love to see our island become the go-to place for all things on two wheels.”

Results

Red Bull Pro Stroke National MX1:

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2
1	CONRAD MEWSE	90	45	45
2	JOSH GILBERT	84	42	42
3	TOMMY SEARLE	80	40	40
4	BRAD TODD	76	38	38
5	MARTIN BARR	72	36	36

Red Bull Pro Stroke National MX2:

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2
1	BILLY ASKEW	87	42	45
2	DYLAN WALSH	82	40	42
3	JOSH SPINKS	80	45	35
4	DYLAN WOODCOCK	76	36	40
5	OLLIE BEAMISH	73	35	38
6	GLENN MCCORMICK	70	34	36
7	CHARLIE COLE	38	38	–
8	JORDAN MCCAW	33	33	–

ACU British 125 two-stroke:

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	GLENN MCCORMICK	135	45	45	45
2	WAL BEANEY	124	40	42	42
3	ROB HOLYOAKE	122	42	40	40
4	DANIEL WOOD	111	38	35	38
5	BRADLEY SMITH	103	35	33	35
6	CHARLIE NIGHTINGALE	101	34	36	31
7	JORDAN WARD	95	27	34	34
8	JAMIE SMITH	95	33	32	30
9	JACK DAVIS	94	30	31	33
10	CONNOR SUTHERLAND	91	29	30	32
11	GEORGE BENNETT	81	26	26	29
12	HARRY CHALLIS	81	25	29	27
13	GLEN BIXBY	81	28	27	26
14	HARRY BUTCHER	73	22	28	23
15	SHAUN SPRINGER	72	36	–	36
16	ZAC BOWDEN	71	23	24	24
17	TROY HAYWARD	69	31	38	–
18	NATALIE SMYE	64	19	23	22
19	RUEBEN BAILEY	60	32	–	28
20	BARRY MATTHEWS	60	18	21	21
21	DARREN PEACOCK	56	16	20	20
22	BRAD JONES	50	–	25	25
23	JOSH DANIEL	43	21	22	–
24	LEE RUSSELL	24	24	–	–
25	DANIEL JACKMAN	20	20	–	–
26	KYE JOYNER	17	17	–	–
27	ANDY STATHAM	15	15	–	–

ACU British Open two-stroke:

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	RAIFE BROADLEY	128	38	45	45
2	JOSH COLEMAN	126	42	42	42
3	MARTIN BARR	112	34	38	40
4	ADAM HARRIS	112	36	40	36
5	AARON PATSTONE PATSTONE	103	33	35	35
6	JORDAN MCCAW	101	27	36	38
7	RYAN NOCK	96	32	30	34
8	HARRISON FORDE	96	30	33	33
9	CAMERON HAYWARD	92	28	32	32
10	TOBIAS BAILEY	84	25	28	31
11	BILLY JONES	74	21	25	28
12	TOM HUGHES	63	29	34	–
13	LOUIS WAUGH	60	31	29	–
14	BILLY MORIARTY	57	26	31	–
15	LEE HOLLINGSBEE	57	–	27	30
16	GEORGE DENGATE	51	22	–	29
17	MARCUS SMITH	50	24	26	–
18	MATT BAYLISS	45	45	–	–
19	TOMMY SEARLE	40	40	–	–
20	BRAD TODD	35	35	–	–
21	MAX HARVEY	23	23	–	–
22	JASON WEEKS	20	20	–	–
23	DANIEL BONNER	19	19	–	–
24	MATT SMITH	18	18	–	–

ACU British Evo two-stroke:

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	STEVEN BIXBY	135	45	45	45
2	JON BARFOOT	124	40	42	42
3	SCOTT ALLEN	111	35	40	36
4	SHAUN THOMAS	110	34	38	38
5	JAMIE THOMAS	103	33	35	35
6	GRAHAM JONES	99	32	34	33
7	MAX MCGILLEY	97	30	33	34
8	NICK NOBLE	95	31	32	32
9	JUSTIN ROBINSON	78	38	–	40
10	BEN REEVES	72	36	36	–
11	SHELDON SEAL	42	42	–	–
12	IVANO CHIESA	29	29	–	–

ACU British Super Evo two-stroke:

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	JOSH SPINKS	135	45	45	45
2	ROB HOLYOAKE	126	42	42	42
3	GLEN PHILLIPS	120	40	40	40
4	TIMMY ANDREW	111	35	38	38
5	CALLUM WATSON	108	36	36	36
6	SAM CHEESMAN	104	34	35	35
7	MATTHEW LORIMER	101	33	34	34
8	OLIVER WEEKS	38	38	–	–
9	FRASER HOPKIN	32	32	–	–

Red Bull Pro Stroke National Clubman MX1:

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	BEN LAMBERT WILLIAMS	127	45	42	40
2	PAUL BARRAND	125	40	40	45
3	CHRIS CHAPMAN	121	34	45	42
4	DANIEL GUY	118	42	38	38
5	HARVEY FAGG	106	38	36	32
6	LUKE SHEPHERD	103	36	32	35
7	FRASER ROGERS	103	35	35	33
8	CHARLIE CAUDWELL	102	32	34	36
9	KYLE BENNETT	100	33	33	34
10	EDDIE CHARMAN	92	31	30	31
11	DAVID BOWDEN	86	30	27	29
12	DANIEL SILVESTER	84	28	28	28
13	FRANKIE WEST	61	–	31	30
14	PAUL BALE	56	29	–	27
15	LOUIS BAKER	55	–	29	26

Red Bull Pro Stroke National Clubman MX2

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	RHEIS MORTER	130	45	40	45
2	JOHN WAGHORNE	122	38	42	42
3	CONNOR DISANO	106	40	32	34
4	LEO AKERS	104	34	35	35
5	BEN REEVES	103	32	38	33
6	GUY DAY	102	35	31	36
7	SYD HASKAYNE	100	30	30	40
8	SONNY MAY	99	31	36	32
9	GUY BRITTON	89	33	33	23
10	ROWAN HILL	87	42	45	–
11	DAN FAIRMAN	83	26	26	31
12	FRAZER TURNER	81	27	24	30
13	LUKE HUMPHRIES	79	28	23	28
14	ADAM PAIN	78	29	25	24
15	CRAIG WILDISH-CONWAY	76	22	28	26
16	LUKE SPINKS	72	–	34	38
17	GEORGE PAY	69	23	21	25
18	CAINE HODGE	66	24	22	20
19	JOE HUGHES	63	36	27	–
20	ANTONIO SOUZA	58	–	29	29
21	MAX MONK	52	25	–	27
22	MATT SANTER	41	20	–	21
23	ADAM THOMAS	39	19	20	–
24	JORDAN BRITT	22	–	–	22
25	FREDDIE GIDLEY	21	21	–	–
26	SEAN THOMAS	18	18	–	–

Red Bull Noughties:

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3	R4
1	CHARLIE NUDDS	135	45	–	45	45
2	JOSH MAYO	122	42	–	42	38
3	TOM BROWN	120	38	–	40	42
4	LUKE HEAVER	118	40	–	38	40
5	MARCUS SMITH	104	32	–	36	36
6	JOSEPH BANKS	104	35	–	34	35
7	JOE CLARK	96	31	–	32	33
8	DAN SMITH	91	29	–	31	31
9	STEVEN HALFHIDE	86	27	–	30	29
10	RICHARD TAPLEY	85	26	–	29	30
11	SONNIE MEE-HARRIS	84	28	–	28	28
12	GUY RAINES	71	36	–	35	–
13	DEAN CLARK	67	–	–	33	34
14	STEVE HAYWARD	62	30	–	–	32
15	CALLUM SWAN	34	34	–	–	–
16	SAM INGRAM	33	33	–	–	–

Over 40s Open 2- stroke:

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	MICHAEL CHESNEY	135	45	45	45
2	PAUL MOORE	122	40	40	42
3	MIKE ALLPORT	120	42	38	40
4	LUCAN DAY	111	38	35	38
5	RICHARD BROWN	108	36	36	36
6	BRENDAN CORR	102	34	33	35
7	RAYMOND NICHOLLS	98	32	32	34
8	DANNY POMPHRETT	94	31	30	33
9	PAUL GODFREY	87	29	27	31
10	CARL WIGHTMAN	86	26	28	32
11	RICHARD HORTON	83	30	23	30
12	DARREN GEORGE	69	35	34	–
13	PAUL BUNN	62	33	29	–
14	MARK REEVES	59	28	31	–
15	SAUL NIGHTINGALE	52	27	25	–
16	JASON FAGG	51	25	26	–
17	ARTHUR SEATON	45	23	22	–
18	MATT COLE	42	–	42	–
19	GARY NUTT	24	24	–	–
20	ANDY STATHAM	24	–	24	–

Youth 125 – A

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	LEVI SAUNDERS	132	45	42	45
2	TRAVIS LAUGHTON	127	42	45	40
3	MAX CORKE	118	38	38	42
4	FINLEY YORKE-WILLIAMS	110	40	40	30
5	OWEN WILDISH-CONWAY	102	35	33	34
6	JOE GRAINGER	101	34	34	33
7	LENNY WRIGHT	90	24	35	31
8	LUKE HODGSON	89	31	31	27
9	WILLIAM BELL	85	27	30	28
10	MAX MONK	83	30	28	25
11	ARTHUR MACDONALD	78	26	26	26
12	HARRY FARLAM	77	21	27	29
13	KAYDEN SMITH	74	–	36	38
14	FREDDY WILLET	74	25	25	24
15	JON WAGHORN	71	36	–	35
16	OLIVER CLARKE	69	22	24	23
17	GEORGE CORKE	68	–	32	36
18	BRAYDEN GILLIAM	65	33	–	32
19	ASHLEY-JOHN MATTHEWS	58	29	29	–
20	MATTHEW HEAD	32	32	–	–
21	ALFIE PAYNE	28	28	–	–
22	DYLAN GUEST	23	23	–	–
23	DANIEL HEAD	20	20	–	–

Youth 125 – B

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	BLAKE MONKS	132	45	45	42
2	JAMIE TAYLOR	115	35	40	40
3	SHANE WOODSFORD	110	36	38	36
4	OLIVER MCHUGH	108	38	32	38
5	LOUIS WALLIS	94	25	35	34
6	KENZIE MARSH	93	34	33	26
7	BILLY BENNETT	92	30	30	32
8	KANE WELCH-CORBETT	92	33	34	25
9	BRANDON PAYNE	91	32	31	28
10	WILLIAM GODFREY	88	31	24	33
11	LOUIE HUTCHINS	87	–	42	45
12	DANIEL CHARMAN	86	27	28	31
13	BRADLEY HATHAWAY	85	26	29	30
14	ELIOT WAKEFIELD	80	29	27	24
15	BROOK MONTGOMERY	75	23	25	27
16	ERIKAS KUZMINSKAS	71	–	36	35
17	HANNAH SMYE	68	24	26	18
18	MAISON BYRNE	62	19	21	22
19	LENNIE FULLER	60	17	22	21
20	LOGHAN KING	57	28	–	29
21	LOUIE WIGHTMAN	52	16	20	16
22	DANIEL ANDERTON	49	15	19	15
23	ALFIE HOOK	46	–	23	23
24	OLIVER HIPKINS	42	42	–	–
25	HARRY FITZPATRICK	41	21	–	20
26	JACK HOARE	40	40	–	–
27	OLIVER RIMMER	39	20	–	19
28	NOAH WILSON	35	18	–	17
29	HARLEY SIGGINS	22	22	–	–

Youth 250F:

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	LIAM BENNETT	132	42	45	45
2	JAKE CAPPA	124	40	42	42
3	REECE HALL	118	38	40	40
4	CHARLIE GUTTERIDGE	112	36	38	38
5	BILLY ASKEW	45	45	–	–
6	LOUIE HUTCHINS	35	35	–	–

Youth Big Wheel 85

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	CHARLIE RICHMOND	132	45	45	42
2	JAMIE KEITH	129	42	42	45
3	ROBBIE DALY	120	40	40	40
4	FINLEY PICKERING	114	38	38	38
5	ARCHIE EDWARDS	106	35	35	36
6	ARCHIE STAPLEY	100	31	34	35
7	ELLIOTT YEANDLE	96	33	32	31
8	JACK DESBOROUGH	95	34	28	33
9	LUCAS MONCRIEFF	94	36	36	22
10	REGGIE WILLET	93	30	31	32
11	FRDDIE SAUNDERS	91	24	33	34
12	RONNY ROBB	89	32	29	28
13	ZAK MURPHY	84	28	26	30
14	JAY FOREMAN	83	29	27	27
15	KOLBIE SMITH	82	26	30	26
16	RILEY-JACK RICKETTS	81	27	25	29
17	MAX FAGG	72	25	24	23
18	HAYDEN CLARKE	68	21	22	25
19	CHARLIE HOLLAMBY	67	23	20	24
20	CONNOR PARR	64	20	23	21
21	ALFIE DOLMAN	63	22	21	20
22	PHOEBE FULLER	37	18	19	–
23	DYLAN HARRISON	19	19	–	–

Youth Small Wheel 85

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	HARRY REEDER	68	22	23	23
2	MATAS KRIKSCIUKAITIS	76	30	22	24
3	GEORGE MILES	77	26	26	25
4	TROY MCGILLEY	78	24	28	26
5	TOMMY BARFORD	83	29	27	27
6	KATIE-EMMA HAYWARD	85	28	29	28
7	BOBBY TURNER	86	27	30	29
8	NED JONES	92	38	24	30
9	HETTIE HAGUES	92	25	33	34
10	MAX GILMORE	98	32	31	35
11	TOMMIE PERFECT	100	35	34	31
12	LOGAN WATTERSON (V)	100	33	35	32
13	SONNY BIXBY	101	36	32	33
14	CHARLIE HOBDEN	105	31	38	36
15	CHARLIE WARD	108	34	36	38
16	MASON DOE	122	40	42	40
17	HARLEY INCE	124	42	40	42
18	RALPHY-JAY HOLLOWAY	135	45	45	45
19	CARTER WILLIAMS	48	23	25	–

The 2023 Apico 2-Stroke Festival was supported by Red Bull, Ovenden Plant Hire, TW Services
ACS scaffolding, Harris Hire Hockley and Lee Dunham Racing.