There’s AMCA British Championship action this coming Sunday as the Middlewich MXC host round 4 of the 2023 title chase. Following a couple of double-headers to start the campaign, this time it’s a single day event with three moto’s for all classes. The circuit is easily accessible from both junction 17 and 18 of the M6 with the local postcode being CW10 0HJ. Admission costs for the event are Adults £10, OAP’s £5 with Children Under 16 being admitted for free if they are accompanied by a paying Adult.
Preview and Feature Image by Mike Wood
In the Open class, so far it’s been pretty much dominated by James Dodd and Henry Williams who have filled the top two positions in all eight moto’s. On the win count it’s 6-2 in Doddy’s favour and that means that he also leads the Championship standings. Holding 3rd and 4th in this one at present are the equally consistent pairing of Will Hughes and Adam Wells with Luke Meredith and Mark Roberts next up.
After bagging maximum points during the last round at Lower Drayton, defending double MX2 Champion Shane Carless has moved to the top of the 2023 standings. At present though both Rory Jones and Corey Hockey are hot on his tail, just a further 10 and 20 points respectively in arrears. In what as already proved to be a very entertaining class, McKenzie Marshall, Lee Truman, Jake Preston, Jordan Wright, Alfie Calvert and Liam Gale have all started the series strongly.
With early pacesetter Damon Strydom suffering a moto three DNF at Lower Drayton, Luke Dean has taken full advantage to thus surge to the top of the 125cc title standings. During that round 3, Dean was in fantastic form scoring a moto win hat-trick to go 29 points clear of his rivals. After a lengthy break from the sport, former AMCA Champion Jack Cox has made a stunning comeback and holds 2nd from Strydom, Chris Povey, Harry Linton and Charlie Palmer. Incredibly, FUS Marsh Geartec Husqvarna teammates Strydom and Povey are currently sitting on exactly the same number of points!!
The 125cc Youth Championship shares the same stage as the BWMA Woman’s series and so far, it’s produced some very interesting racing and results. Just 10 points currently separates the top four in the Youth series as Wyatt McGregor leads from Jack Evans, Shane Jones and Will Turner. Apex GasGas UK pilot Jones though is certainly the lad in top form and after a DNF in the very first race of the Championship he has since reeled off 7 superb wins. In the Woman’s Championship, Marni Saunders after taking the overall top slot at both Fatcat and Lower Drayton is also the early series leader. Caitlin Newman though is keeping the pressure on Marni and is just 17 points in arrears with Grace Bates, Hannah Jones, Hollie Roberts and Amber McGregor completing the top six.
The 85cc racing in the AMCA Championship is also a combined contest putting the boy’s Youth contest alongside the BWMA Girls series. Oakley Kettle, Mason Care, George Clark, Oliver Bebb and Alfie Irons are the early top lads. Care though is certainly a rider in hot form and on a mission, winning 6 out of 8 moto’s, his scorecard only blotted by a lowly 29th on race three at Fatcat. The super pairing of Holly Williams and Checoby Rainey are topping the Girls 85cc series locked together on 382 points each with Cameron Mansbridge in 3rd. Proving that they are certainly right on the pace and very capable of mixing it with the boy’s, Williams and Rainey are also flying high in the combined 85cc Championship table, currently in a great 8th and 9th respectively.
Over in the Vets competition, former AMCA Champion Simon Lane, team boss of LRT Racing, has started the season in super form and tops the early standings. Simon on his 450F Yamaha currently heads Adam Wilkinson on his little 125cc GasGas by just 5 points with another Lane, James just a further 9 points in arrears. Also making a 2023 return to AMCA Championship racing, Matt Ryder who has previously tasted title success is lying 4th and also tops the Vets Over 50’s title race with Brian Staples in 2nd and Stuart Kilmarten 3rd.
