RED BULL PRO STROKE NATIONAL REVS UP FOR 2024

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The Red Bull Pro Stroke National is set to be back with a bang in 2024, bigger and better than ever.

Running alongside the Apico 2-Stroke Festival weekend at Sellindge MX track in Kent, on Sunday the 18th of August, the Pro and Pro-Am event will see both MX1 and MX2 riders race against each other at the same time, on the same track. While this will make an epic spectacle for spectators, the competitors will have the reassurance of both classes being scored separately.

Festival promoter Dave Willet believes the Red Bull Pro Stroke National provides an important platform for UK racers to test themselves and put themselves in front of heavyweights within the sport. For example, Conrad Mewse deputed on a KTM450 against Tommy Searle in 2022, and upcoming young gun Billy Askew stepped up as a youth rider to compete against the adults and won the MX2 class, highlighting his skills to Red Bull in the process.

Willet outlined his thoughts; “While, like most, I am a believer in the 125 2-Stroke class as a stepping stone into Europe, it would be rash to discount MXGP as the pinnacle of the sport. Our aim is to offer a way to help develop our riders and the sport in the UK to help younger riders get on the world stage.

“Also, in 2023 the Red Bull Pro Stroke National was up there in terms of offering big prize money, perhaps the biggest for a single event in the UK. That’s important too and is an incentive that will continue.”

Pictured: Billy Askew at the 2023 Apico 2-Stroke Festival. Image credit: Adam Duckworth Photography.

BRITISH 125 CHAMPIONSHIP KICKS OFF AT HAWKSTONE

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The recently-launched official ACU Apico 2-Stroke Festival British 125cc 2-Stroke Championship will kick off at Hawkstone Park in March 2024, when the Fastest 40 takes to the iconic motocross track near Shrewsbury.

The 2024 Apico 2-Stroke Festival partnership with the Fastest-40 will see an eight-round, ACU-sanctioned British 125cc 2-Stroke Championship. The Festival at Sellindge in Kent in August will include a Saturday/Sunday double-header, providing two rounds of the series. The Fastest-40 will run the other six rounds on a nationwide basis.

There are few motocross racers who don’t relish the chance to race at Hawkstone. The chance to race and to rip up the famous Hawkstone Hill is an opportunity not to be missed. And, for some of the fastest youngsters in motocross, getting to mix it with several 125cc vets in a full 40-rider line-up, all fighting for a British title, on such a challenging track, will be a dream come true.

The ACU Apico 2-Stroke Festival British 125cc 2-Stroke Championship schedule is as follows;

Round 1 – March 30th – Fastest 40

Round 2 – April 20th – Fastest 40

Round 3 – May 11th – Fastest 40

Round 4 – June 1st – Fastest 40

Round 5 – July 6th– Fastest 40

Round 6 – August 17th – Apico 2-Stroke Festival

Round 7 – August 18th – Apico 2-Stroke Festival

Round 8 – September 7th – Fastest 40

“With some of the fastest youngsters in motocross sharpening up their skills for this championship, it’s going to be ultra-competitive, especially when you add-in some of the 125 veterans,” said Apico 2-Stroke Festival promoter Dave Willet. “I’m sure the atmosphere will be off the scale, and I can’t wait to see 40 riders in the main race battling right the way through the field.”

To register for the series email kevin@fastest40.co.uk

Details of how to enter will be available at www.fastest40.co.uk and www.2strokefestival.com and on social media platforms in the New Year.

Image credit: Adam Duckworth Photography.