The 2025 Arenacross British championship heads into the final round at Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday 22nd February with titles across all classes on the line in a hotly contested tour as it all comes down to the wire. And with double points on the table in the pro ranks there’s still plenty to fight for and drama anticipated.
In the pro class Dean Wilson has excelled on his racing return to the U.K, winning every round to build up a 32-point lead but with 50 points available for a win at the final round and not the regular 25 he’s still mathematically within in striking distance of Adam Chatfield, Conrad Mewse, Tommy Searle, Jack Brunell and Matt Bayliss who will all be giving it their best shot.
Chatfield, the 2013 and first ever Arenacross champion, has put together a brilliant tour thus far on his S.Briggs Honda, showing all of his experience over a decade of AX racing, but he’s going to have to ride out of his skin to keep a hard charging Conrad Mewse (Crendon Tru7 Honda Racing) behind him in the championship. Mewse missed the first round with a shoulder injury and since his return has pushed Wilson (Armor Vision / St. Blazey Honda) hard but ultimately coming up short each time. Tommy Searle has had his highs and lows throughout the tour and sits fourth in the championship, just two points behind Mewse and four back from Chatfield. The 2023 champion has ridden well and been flying out of the gate on his new Dirt Store Triumph Racing ride, the only 250cc machine in the class from the beginning.
READ MORE: ARENACROSS NEWS
Defending champ Brunell (Stark Future Racing) is coming back to form just at the right time after a difficult start to his title defence. A dislocated thumb in a freak accident off the bike while recording a news feature for regional TV in London didn’t help his cause either, but he’s dug deep and still has a chance of winning back to back championships, but realistically it’s a long shot as he’d need all Wilson, Chatfield, Mewse and Searle to all have a disaster. Matt Bayliss (SC Sportshome Husqvarna) in sixth is the only other rider who on paper could be crowned champion but again, it would take all the riders ahead of him to not make the final and for him to win it, which even by Arenacross standards would be unexpected drama.
With just 12 points separating Chatfield in second and Bayliss in sixth it’s fair to say the final positions at the sharp end of the championship could be like ‘musical chairs’ at Manchester, especially with double points on offer.
Going on the form of the past four rounds it’s evident that Wilson or Mewse have that little bit extra over the rest of the field and both will want to win the final round. Dean is in the privileged position to settle for a lower score at the final round to win the championship but is unlikely to do that as he’d love to sweep the series. Conrad will inevitably want to stop Dean winning all the rounds and prove to everyone and himself that he’s capable of beating him, just like he did in last year’s British motocross championship with Jeffrey Herlings, and he clearly left it all out on the track last time out in Aberdeen.
However much to the delight of the partisan Scottish crowd in the P&J Live arena, Wilson won both his heat races and then the final to sweep the event but once again he didn’t have it his own way. Mewse was fired up and after running wide in the first corner he came through from fifth to catch Wilson with some incredible whoop speed, something Dean is more renowned for. However, it was the whoops that were to be Conrad’s downfall after he was forced to change his line due to a lapped rider; he got out of control and crashed off the side of the track.
Brunell made it two third place finishes on the spin at Aberdeen as he rode solid with his confidence clearly coming back. Bayliss put in his best performance of the tour finishing fourth and being the only person to make a pass on Wilson all night, before Dean quickly returned the favour. With confidence still high from this third-place finish on Friday night in Belfast Apico Factory Racing Honda’s Martin Barr racked up another top five finish in Aberdeen.
After five intense, action-packed rounds of the Arenacross British championship the scene is set for the drama to continue and come to a head and to add even more spice to the melting pot it’s going to the 100th night of Arenacross! So, the show will be more amped up and charged than ever before with the addition of a celebrity minibike race, the ‘Amped race to Manchester’ kids balance bike final and of course all the skill and flair of the FMX riders and the ‘Fuel Girls’ to help illuminate the AO Arena and sign off the 2025 Arenacross British championship in fitting style. But who’s going to win? Make sure you’re there to find out and play your part in generating the atmosphere in what will be an awesome series finale.
For general admission tickets, VIP Packages and more details go to www.axworldtour.com
Words and Images courtesy of AX World Tour
