This coming weekend 30th & 31st March, the first round of the ever-popular BSMA O’Neal nationals will be held at the sandy Sherwood circuit in Nottinghamshire. Eyes will be on the reigning champions to see how they will stack up against old and new rivals.
Words and Images by Ady Cowshall – Images of Speed
Plenty of changes over the off-season with riders moving class in no less than four of the groups! Two adult champions have remained in their winning class’s, Vet champ Mark Morris senior not only won his class but also gained a brand new Kawasaki to compete the 2024 championship on. The Morris racing team rider has not been shy in showing off his Marsh Motorsports machine across social media and surely is the man to beat. Wildman Willis back from some serious injuries will be sure to be challenging for podiums and isn’t scared of a little contact when needed, then there is the super quick Stark Varg of Richard Green who could certainly throw a spanner in the works. A whole bunch of new names are going to be mixing things up and running in with the under 45’s means a whole lot of competition for the older guys.One thing is for sure there will be a new under 45 vet champ with reigning champ Luke Spence not registered.
MX2 title holder Leon Williams is back to attempt to hold onto his title and his pre-championship form looks strong. He will no doubt have his hands full with a lot of youngsters coming up into the adult ranks, including the Open senior champ Alfie Smith. Alfie under the tutorage of the Welsh wizard Mark Jones will no doubt be quick out of the gate. Adam Harris will be in the hunt for the title and out to show the nippers some race craft. Look out for Connor Jago if he gets a start he could be a factor along with the youthful exuberance of Ellis Bubb and Jake O’Gorman.
The senior open class see’s the 125 champ Jamie Kuehn move to the 4 stroke and he is joined by the BW85 champion Fin Stead with the current title holder Alfie Smith moved up into the adult ranks.Can Kuehn grab this title, or will it be one of the new riders to the BSMA circus.
The 125 senior class has SW85 champ in its ranks, Aiden Burke skipped the bw class in favour of the bigger bikes. Will he be a contender? Plenty of old faces coming back to the championship with the likes of Jack Evans, Ashton Bubb and Luka ‘The Hair’ Aston all making a return. Ben Casey will be in the mix after some dominating form on the smaller 85 machines.
With all the other classes without defending champions there will be some fierce competition to not only with the class but take the title of the highest point scorer of the season.
The season opener looks set to be a tough one with wet weather forecast on the run up so a heavily rutted track looks likely to be on the cards. Great planning to counter the great British weather by being a sand circuit and flat paddock and what better way to remember it with some action shots from Images of Speed the official and only trackside photographer covering the series.
