If ever there was an example to give to your children as to why you should never give up, perhaps Tony Craig’s 2023 Scottish Motocross Championship season might be a good place to start. Coming into this year’s Championship with very little budget compared to his nearest rivals, Tony slowly built his season up with a series of lower placed top ten positions.
Words and images: Johnny Douglas Hamilton, Images:
Round 3 at the spectacular Doune Motocross track near Stirling on a scorching hot summer’s day saw something of a fire light beneath him. A series of solid results including a third place in moto two followed by another top five finish saw Tony catapulted up to sixth place in the championship. With the fourth round cancelled and the final two rounds placed late in a gruelling season of travel, Tony was momentarily forced to admit defeat and call it a season early in October.
Perhaps it was a second look at the points standing that did it, but as the gate dropped for round five at Schoolhouse on the 15th of October, Tony was there. His three year old bike practically held together with bubblegum and sticky tape. He rode the wheels off his Honda to finish 6th, 4th and 4th respectively, throwing him up the standings and now within reach of third overall. Perhaps more importantly for Tony and his family was the fact that third in the Championship would bring a series bonus cheque of £2,000 from series sponsor Safe Access Highland Ltd.
As he lined up next to his competitors at the final round he knew it was a long shot, but he tore out of the gate with a holeshot. As Tony held onto a comfortable second place behind Conrad Mewse at the chequered flag, the unthinkable happened to Brad Todd. His bike cut out preventing him from finishing the moto and pushing Tony up into third in the championship. The second moto saw Tony finish one place behind Brad reducing his lead to just two points, ensuring he had to beat his opponent in the final moto.
Brad Todd is probably one of the more well liked riders in the paddock, but its no insult to him to say that almost everyone in the facility that day was routing for Tony. As luck would have it in the final moto, Brad would himself ride the wheels off his borrowed Honda, finishing just one place ahead of Tony and ensuring the final points standings would see a tie.
The count back system for a championship differs to that of an on the day count back. Neither rider had won a race. Both had finished second once. Brad Todd however, had more third place finishes in the season giving him the position over Tony. Tied on 246 points it was a cruel blow for all of Tony’s efforts, but his reputation as one of the sports most popular, committed and well loved riders had only grown. Tony embodies everything we love about our sport – a never say die attitude, lived out on a shoe string budget.
Tony has a small group of very loyal supporters and family behind him. If you would like to come on board and join Tony’s team for the 2024 season you can get in touch with him through his social media https://www.instagram.com/tc__57/ or contact the Scottish Motocross Championship Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088567790360
Tony’s sponsors this year:
RSS
Stafford Van Sales
Danger UK
Dennis Irvine
Redwing UK
RnR
Big Duff
Les Mitchell
Scott Napier
Gareth Blake
Gareth Craig
Dunc
