PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT FOR TEAM GB JUNIOR WORLD PROGRAMME

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MX Team GB Junior World team manager Dave Willet, the driving force behind the Apico 2-Stroke Festival featuring the Red Bull Pro Stroke National, has got together with his Team GB co-organisers to put on another couple of youth motocross training days; one in the UK and one in Holland.

Following on from the successful outing at Doncaster Moto Parc in April, the second Team GB Junior World training day will be held at FatCat Moto Parc on the next bank holiday, Monday the 6th of May.

This presents a perfect opportunity for riders and their families to enjoy a full-on weekend of both competitive and fun motocross activity, as the practice day follows a weekend of racing at FatCat, with rounds of the 90 Racing MX Club Championship, and Dirt Store British Youth Motocross Championship qualifying rounds.

The day at FatCat will be swiftly followed by the chance to ride and train on the very circuit that will host the 2024 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship.  On Thursday the 23rd of May, immediately prior to the Whitsun bank holiday weekend, Willet has privately hired the Circuit Kamperweg Heerde in the Netherlands for an afternoon training session and is opening it up to UK youth riders.

Heerde is a superbly professional and permanent facility in the centre of Holland, which will also be open to the public on the Wednesday before the Team GB Junior World track day.

Commenting on the upcoming initiatives, Willet explained; “With the UK youth motocross season starting so much later this year, there are only a limited number of opportunities for our youth riders to get some proper bike time.

“We hope that, by offering riding time at the popular FatCat Moto Parc and the world-class Heerde venues, youth riders can benefit by honing their skills on two very different tracks and take advantage of training alongside their peers. What’s more, with the selection process for the Junior Motocross World Championship looming, the Team GB talent scouts will also have time to monitor the riders’ progress.”

Both training days at FatCat and Heerde are open to 65cc, 85cc, and 125cc youth riders. They will be attended by leading youth coaches Glen Phillips, Ashley Wilde and Lee Dunham who will, as always, be ready to help out and share a hot tip or two.

Numbers are restricted at both venues, with bookings via GoRaceMX. To secure a place at FatCat Moto Parc on Monday the 6th of May, go to www.goracemx.com/event.php?eid=7917. To book in for Heerde on Thursday the 23rd of May, follow this link www.goracemx.com/event.php?eid=6098.

The 2024 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship will be held at the Circuit Kamperweg Heerde in the Netherlands, on the 14th of July 2024.

Pictured: Freddie Gardiner at the 2023 Junior Motocross World Championship.

SIGN UP FOR THE APICO 2-STROKE FESTIVAL FEATURING RED BULL PRO STROKE NATIONAL

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Gearing up for an action-packed weekend of racing, the ever-evolving Apico 2-Stroke Festival, featuring the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National, returns to Sellindge in Kent this summer with a three-day celebration of motocross from the 16th to the 18th of August.

Entries are now open for the 2024 edition of the Festival, which is set to deliver a programme of high-adrenaline entertainment from the Friday, when the finely-sculpted and challenging track opens up to youth riders on 50cc, 65cc and 85cc machines, right through to close of play on the Sunday after all adult class riders have had their fun.

In addition to the flat-out racing on the main track, the second track at Sellindge MX will be turned over for a spot of something different, with races for wanna-be Pros from the age of just three years on balance bikes, and bar-bashing pit bike racing for adult riders. Elsewhere, there’ll be an interactive village set up offering tryout sessions for novice riders of all ages, enabling them to get a taste of the joys of motocross.

A welcome fixture on the UK’s MX race calendar since 2017, the Apico 2-Stroke Festival runs in association with the ACU to grant full British Championship status for its 2-Stroke 125, Open, Evo and Super Evo classes. In addition, youth classes catering for 125, 250F, BW and SW85s as well as Over-40s open 2-stroke will take place.

Festival promoter Dave Willet, together with Dylan Brown, the owner of main sponsor Apico Factory Racing, have agreed a multi-thousand-pound prize fund/product deal which will deliver a host of winning opportunities to riders across the full breadth of classes.

Red Bull is once more supporting the Festival with support over the weekend for the Red Bull Pro Stroke National Clubman MX1/MX2 and Red Bull Noughties. Then, on Sunday, the Pros roll out for the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National with classes for Pro/Expert MX1 and MX2.

Race schedule:

Friday/Saturday:

Youth 65 (7-11 yrs)

Youth 50 (6-8yrs)

Youth Sw 85 (9-12yrs)

Youth Bw 85 (11-14yrs)

Saturday/ Sunday:

ACU British 125 two-stroke

ACU British Open two-stroke

ACU British Evo two-stroke

ACU British Super Evo two-stroke

Red Bull Pro Stroke National Clubman MX1

Red Bull Pro Stroke National Clubman MX2

Red Bull Noughties (age 25 + machine year (2000/2008)

Over 40s Open 2- stroke

Youth 125

Youth 250F

E2 (4-5yrs)

E3 (4-6yrs)

E5 (6-8yrs) 

Electric Balance Bike 16” (3-5yrs)

Electric Balance Bike 12” (3-4yrs)

Farm Bike/Pit Bikes (Adults)

Sunday only:

Red Bull Pro Stroke National MX1/MX2

“Be sure to mark your calendars,” said Festival promoter Dave Willet. “And join us for a weekend full of high-speed thrills and festival fun. This year’s event will herald the start of something big in 2025, which I can promise will be a game changer. Watch this space!”

Entries are now available – go to www.goracemx.com and search Club: X Bladez 2 Stroke Festival

Pictured: Tommy Searle is a regular competitor at the Apico 2-Stroke Festival. Image credit: Adam Duckworth Photography.

FLYING START FOR TEAM GB JUNIOR WORLD TRAINING

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The Team GB Junior World programme enjoyed a positive start to its 2024 campaign when the first training session of the new season took place at Doncaster Moto Parc (DMP) last week.

The 2024 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship will be held at the Circuit Kamperweg Heerde in the Netherlands, on the 14th of July 2024. With only a short window of opportunity for team boss Dave Willet and his team of experts to monitor potential candidates and whittle down the field of highly-talented youth riders to just five per class across 65cc, 86cc and 125cc, dedicated ‘talent spotting’ days such as the one at DMP are crucial.

Over 40 riders of all abilities turned up to enjoy the challenging conditions on the 4th of April, and with highly-respected coaches Glen Phillips and Ashley Wilde on hand to offer a few top tips, they were able to combine a spot of fun with some serious tuition.

As he continues to cast the Team GB net far and wide in the search for the best British youth riders, Willet said: “We had a fantastic day at Doncaster Moto Parc for the first team GB Junior World training session. Despite the overnight rain, the track was in great condition and provided a challenging experience for all riders.

“As previously outlined, many British-based championships will not take place before the cut-off point when we need to make the tough call as to who to include in this year’s team. So it is necessary to run our own sessions to give all interested parties a chance to shine.

“Huge thanks go to Paul Grimshaw Vehicle Movements, the ACU, and Ed and Karen of DMP for providing the facility and for their backing. I must also give a shout out to Glen, Ash and MotoHead Mag for giving their support and helping to make the day so successful. We managed to put in nearly two hours of rider timing, giving all involved invaluable experience.”

Pictured: Alfie Geddes Green. Image credit: Adam Duckworth Photography.