The penultimate round of the Arenacross British Championship stormed into the Resorts World Arena, NEC, Birmingham on Saturday, the 4th of February, with a heady line up of the very best British Pro motocross racers, supported by a further five classes of Pro Am and Youth competitors.
Images courtesy of ArenacrossUK
The Arenacross Tour presented by Fix Auto has enjoyed several firsts this year. It is the first time the race series has been officially sanctioned by the UK’s Auto Cycle Union (ACU) as a fully-fledged British Championship. It is the first time the Pro line up has been British-only with the reigning British MX1 and MX2 champions in the mix. It is the first-time an all-electric motocross series is a British Championship. And … it is the first time to witness sell-out shows at Belfast and Birmingham.
Eight thousand fans of live action-sports and family entertainment packed the Resorts World Arena on Saturday night, while the total live streaming viewing figures across the tour to date totals an astonishing 260,000. This, on the back of both Belfast and Aberdeen being sell-out shows, confirms that ArenacrossUK is well and truly on the racing map both in the UK, and throughout the world.
On the Pro Arenacross racing front, Tommy Searle, GTCi Revo Kawasaki cleaned up with a flawless performance in both Pro heats and Main Event final. Joe Clayton was the fastest qualifier in the morning sessions. Searle won the overall heats qualifying and Jake Nicholls won the head-to-heads eliminator. Clayton, Searle and Nicholls each collected an additional point for their efforts. Teenager Ben Clayton made it through to his first Main Event thanks to earning the support of fans, family and friends in the People’s Vote.
At the post-event press conference, the top three Pro riders spoke of their Birmingham experience and Arenacross in general;
Jack Brunell – “I’m really happy. The goal was to be on podium every weekend and at the end of the championship be in the fight. I had a setback at the opening round in Belfast but am back on it now. The track was good tonight. Being so technical, it showed what we’re about. We’ve got the two motocross British champions on the line up and I think that next year it can only get stronger. This is the future, rather than standing in a wet field.”
Conrad Mewse – “It was a great night. Coming into the championship, I wanted to do well for our sponsors and team. Overall, we have had solid results and, as a team, at least one of us has always been on the podium. It’s been another fantastic event. The dirt here in Birmingham is incredible. Every round has been different so far which keeps us on our toes. It is so different from what we’re used to and every weekend I feel more and more comfortable with the challenge. It’s a great championship and I see it as only being beneficial, no negatives whatsoever.”
Tommy Searle – “The day was good. I was fastest in two practices and won the overall, felt comfortable all night and feel good with my team. Arenacross and its live streaming motivates me massively and I’m enjoying riding. I want to try and win the races to look good on YouTube! I take my hat off to Matt (Bates) and the team. If I was to choose a series next year when I maybe scale it down a bit, this would be my one to choose. My main sponsor at GTCi watches the live streaming, loves it and is coming to London. He’s happy, I’m happy. I would love to see more manufacturers get involved and hope it’s heavily supported next year.”
Heading into the final round, Searle leads Mewse by two points. Whatever happens at the usually-dramatic last round in London, one thing is a cert – it’s going to be a hard-fought, head-to-head battle to the line between both reigning British Motocross Champions.
Round 5 – Overall Arenacross Pro British Championship results:
1. Tommy Searle (GTCi Revo Kawasaki)
2. Conrad Mewse (Crendon Fastrack Honda Racing)
3. Jack Brunell (Troy Lee Designs GASGAS)
4. Joe Clayton (Mark McCann 64 YouTube Channel)
5. Dylan Woodcock (Darjen Kawasaki)
6. Elliott Banks-Browne (Mark McCann 64 YouTube Channel)
Overall Pro Championship standings:
1. Tommy Searle, 71 points
2. Conrad Mewse, 69 points
3. Josh Gilbert, 46 points
4. Jack Brunell, 46 points
5. Elliott Banks-Browne, 37points
6. Joe Clayton, 36 points
Overall Arenacross Team standings:
1. Crendon Fastrack Honda Racing, 112 points
2. GTCI Revo Kawasaki, 80 points
3. Mark Mccan 64 YouTube Channel, 71 points
4. Troy Lee Designs GasGas, 44 points
5. FUS Geartec Husqvarna, 34 points
6. Darjen Kawasaki, 32 points
Other class overall results:
Pro AM
1. Raife Broadley, 30, 2. Neville Bradshaw 26, 3. Sion Talbot, 24, 4. Kyle Lane 21.
Futures
1. Joel Fisher, 30, 2. Sam Dyer, 24, 3. Joshua Fletcher, 21, 4. Jake Farrelly, 21.
AX-E5
1. Austin Edwards, 30, 2. Jimmy Ball, 26, 3. Tate Vincent, 22, 4, Leo Andrew Gill, 19.
Supermini
1. Isaac Ash 30, 2. Austin Beasty, 23, 3. Lewis Spratt 23, 4. Harrison Scholfield, 20.
T-Racers 65cc
1. Casey Lister, 30, 2. John Slade, 26, 3. Jamie Currie, 21, Caleb Ross, 21.
Arenacross partner information can be found at fixautouk.co.uk, traxxas.com, tru7.com, ktm.com, husqvarna-motorcycles.com, gasgas.com, devittinsurance.com, Kawasaki.co.uk, t-racers.com/uk, isuzu.co.uk. For Troy Lee Designs, Alpinestars and Armorvision visit cisport.co.uk.
Competitors in all classes are now focused on championship glory at the OVO Arena Wembley, on the 18th of February. It’s a showdown not to be missed!
Tickets for the final round are available via www.arenacrossuk.com.
