Mx Vice Magazine Issue 4

1 | MX Vice - July 2014 - Issue 4

FREE MAGAZINE

ELLIOTT BANKS-BROWNE

DELVE INTO THE MIND OF EBB

BACK TO SCHOOLGRADING THE BRITISH TEAMS

ALSO: MXGP ~ PRO NATIONALS FESTIVAL ~ ONE INDUSTRIES

FEATURED

ISSUE 4 - JULY 2014


Although this is only the fourth issue of our magazine, it feels like we have been doing this for quite some time. Perhaps that is because the first issue was in the pipeline for so long? We actually had issue one planned a few months before it was released. Whenever one issue goes out, we then immediately start working on the next one, because our team is relatively small. Of course, we are constantly posting new content on the MX Vice website too.

MX Vice is going very well, as May was another record-breaking month. We tried a new social strategy at the beginning of that month, but we still had the most visitors that we have ever had. The British GP at Matterley Basin was a big one for us, unsurprisingly – we had our best day ever on the Monday following the round, which was very exciting! But, we will beat those records again this month. MX Vice is growing at an unprecedented rate!

Speaking of the British GP, the event continues to be the pinnacle of the British season. I was honestly underwhelmed by the round last year, but, I thought it was better this year. Our GP is better suited to the middle of the season, in my opinion, although it didn’t make too much difference to the weather! I also prefer the British GP when it isn’t an ‘MXGP Festival’. I went into detail on the site, but I like it when there are a couple of breaks in the schedule – it gives everyone a bit of time to check out what is going on around the paddock.

Anyway, I digress. This issue of our magazine is very British; a large majority of the content is based on what has gone on in the UK. You have probably realised it by now, but we are huge fans of everything that goes on in our sport. So, we do tend to cover different series from all around the world. However, we have gone back to our roots a little bit with this one, and we will be doing that more in the coming months.

Well, I have probably rambled on enough. So, I will leave you to enjoy the various features in the fourth issue, whether it is the big interview with Elliott Banks-Browne, the review of how most British squads have fared in the first half of the season, or the look at what you need to watch out for at the coming MXGP rounds. Remember, if you have any suggestions, feel free to send them over – MX Vice is here for you!

Lewis Philli ps

WELCOME


MID-TERM REPORT 32-39

ELLIOTT BANKS-BROWNE INTERVIEW 44-51

BEACH PARTY! 54-60

THE MXGP CRYSTAL BALL 66-72

MX VICE PRODUCT TEST 76-77

FEATURES

Lewis PhillipsElliot Spencer

Jonathan McCreadyJames BurfieldJames DunfordAdam Sterry

Elliott Banks-BrowneKTM Images

Ray ArcherSimon CudbySuzuki Images

Kawasaki RacingYamaha Racing

S. TaglioniJ.P Acevedo

CONTRIBUTORS


DESIGNED AND MADE IN THE UK

TALON-ENG.COM



TALON-ENG.COM


The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series has been thoroughly entertaining thus far, as there have been multiple winners in the 450MX class. However, the two Red Bull KTM riders have

proven to be superior.


The fight for the MXGP crown is heating up! Clement Desalle has proven to be more than capable of beating Antonio Cairoli in recent weeks, and is just twenty-five

points down with six rounds remaining.


Nathan Watson took advantage of a fantastic

opportunity to ride for the Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna

squad at the German GP, and he showed a lot of

potential whilst battling with the MXGP regulars.


MX VICE MAILROOMWhy would the ACU deem a venue unsuitable at this late stage? It seems a little weird that they would take Drumclog off of the schedule with just over a month left before the event!Max

The ACU did a pretty good job of explaining this in their press release, but if you did not see it, allow me to explain. If a track owner wants to host a Maxxis British Championship round, there are certain requirements that they must meet. More often than not, the circuit is fine and exactly what the series needs, which appeared to be the case with Drumclog. However, it is the paddock that is a common issue. Unfortunately, not all tracks have enough land, so they cannot accommodate the teams and fans.

In short, the ACU said in their statement that the promoter failed to fulfil the requirements that were set towards the end of last year, in regard to the paddock parking and spectator arrangements. This doesn’t mean that there will never be a round at Drumclog. But it’s not happening this year!

I have a statement, rather than a question. I believe that more has to be done for the teams in the Maxxis British Championship. From the outside looking in, it seems like their sponsors don’t get any real recognition from the ACU, which surely makes it very tough for the teams to find a budget to go racing. Obviously the sport is not big enough for too much more to be done, but surely they can do a little more?Brian

We agree, Brian! If the teams do not get more for their money, some may choose to invest their time elsewhere, which would obviously be quite disastrous for British motocross. The pits cannot get any emptier!

With every month that passes, I am growing more concerned about the amount of serious injuries that we have in this sport. There seems to be more back injuries and deaths at the club meetings, sadly. I believe that it has something to do with the way the tracks seem to resemble supercross. None of the riders at a club meeting have the skills to handle a track like that, in my opinion.Alan

Alan, we had a great article on this on the site, and we will be delving deeper into the topic in the coming months. I do agree that the tracks play a large part, but there is a bigger picture that we must look at. There are many factors that come into play. Whether it is the marshals, bikes, tracks, riders or gear, something has to be done soon.

I saw that the ACU has released a shortlist of riders that will be considered for a spot on the British Motocross des Nations team, and I think it is great that they are giving riders like Ben Watson and Adam Sterry recognition for what they have achieved thus far this year. I know that they probably will not get picked, but it is cool that they have been acknowledged.Matt

We agree! Adam and Ben have had a brilliant year, with some impressive results. They will have a lot of opportunities to represent our country in the future, undoubtedly!

With the Motocross des Nations coming up, I thought I would weigh in on who should be on team GB! Tommy Searle has to go, just because he is solid. Although he hasn’t had any great results so far this year, he’s very consistent, which is exactly what we need. If Dean Wilson is back to full fitness, he needs to be on the 250F also. The final spot could go to Jake Nicholls, Shaun Simpson or maybe even Max Anstie.Nathan

There are a lot of MX2 guys that are looking at moving over to America, and it seems the age restriction rule is the thing that is pushing them away. Why have Youthstream got it in place, when it is hurting their series?Nick

I (Lewis Phillips) touch on this more in my column (that you will find later in this issue), but in short, it is working as they intended. Most of the elite riders are moving into the MXGP class, and MX2 is a great place for the young riders to establish themselves. Admittedly there are some riders that get away (Arnaud Tonus being the latest), but it is likely that they would have gone anyway, especially if it has been their lifelong ambition.


Do you have a question, comment or opinion on anything to do with motocross? If you do, send it to [email protected],

and you may be featured in this column next month!

MX VICE MAILROOMFrom the outside looking in, it seems like Ken Roczen will definitely be on the RCH Suzuki team next year. So, seeing as this is common knowledge, why has the switch not been announced yet?Matt

Firstly, I will agree with you – it does look like Ken Roczen is going to make that change next year. Although it is frustrating, most of the teams cannot officially announce their plans due to legal reasons, as they must wait for the current contract that the rider is under to expire. Remember when Ryan Dungey signed with Red Bull KTM? Everyone knew it, but they didn’t announce it until midnight on the first of October, for that reason.


KEN ROCZEN: Ken Roczen was visibly tired at the final Monster Energy Supercross rounds, so most questioned how he would fare in the longer, more physically demanding Lucas Oil Pro Motocross motos. Well, after four rounds Ken has silenced the critics, as he has proven to be the strongest 450MX rider. The German has a sixteen-point lead over his teammate, and has finished in the top two overall at every round, so he is certainly in a good spot moving forward. If Roczen maintains this form, he will be very tough to beat.

JEFFREY HERLINGS: Obviously, everyone expects Jeffrey Herlings to win each MX2 GP. If he did end up losing a round, it would be very surprising. It seemed like Arnaud Tonus was capable of challenging him earlier in the year, but Herlings has further established his dominance in recent weeks, as he has taken a lot of victories by a lengthy margin. It seems that it will take a miracle for someone to stop the Dutchman from taking a third successive world title. If he stays down in MX2 again in 2015, he could start breaking some impressive records.

JEREMY MARTIN: Jeremy Martin was simply unstoppable at the first two rounds of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series, which has been one of the biggest surprises thus far this year! He has not finished on the top step at the two most recent rounds, but he has still been up on the box, hence why he already has a commanding points lead. If Jeremy keeps this level of consistency up in the coming weeks, it will be tough for anyone to overcome his lead.

EVGENY BOBRYSHEV: Well, Evgeny Bobryshev just cannot stay healthy! In recent years, Evgeny has delivered very few notable finishes, because of his various injuries. Bobryshev seemingly has the speed to contend for wins, but he is far too inconsistent. After sustaining a leg injury in Italy, he will more than likely miss the remainder of the season, which means that he may have had his last ride on a factory Honda, if rumours are to be believed.

DEAN WILSON: Dean Wilson entered the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series as a favourite for the 250MX title. Of course, he is a former champion, so things were looking quite good for him. However, the likeable Scotsman sustained a nasty gash on his leg at the first round, and has been on the sidelines since then. However, he will be on-track this weekend at Muddy Creek, which also means he should be one-hundred-percent in time for the Motocross des Nations! It is a shame that his 250F career had to end on a sour note, but he still has a great deal lined up in the premier class next year.

TYLA RATTRAY: Unfortunately, Tyla Rattray has had a torrid time since making his return to the FIM Motocross World Championship. Apart from a strong ride in moto two at the British GP, Rattray has not finished inside of the top five at all this year, despite the fact that he expects to be winning races. Of course, injuries are the main reason for this, as he has had a lot of health issues to overcome. Tyla is now on the sidelines again, and will be until the last few rounds, where he will attempt to salvage something.

HOT NOTOR


In the weeks leading up to the 2005 AMA Supercross series, most enthusiasts predicted that the season would be the greatest of all time; the entry list boasted an impressive amount of former champions and race winners. But, attrition soon took its toll on the premier class following the titanic opener.Ricky Carmichael was in his prime at this time, of course. However, he entered the season as a bit of an unknown. In the off-season, RC switched from factory Honda to the Makita Suzuki team, which prompted interest from onlookers. He also missed the 2004 season with an ACL injury, so there were a lot of question marks surrounding him that year. However, like he did so many times, Ricky dominated at the start of 2005. After finishing in third at Anaheim 1, he reeled off five consecutive wins. At that point,

things seemed bleak for his competitors.

When the San Diego (round seven) main event started, it seemed like the same scenario was going to play out. After Jeremy McGrath (who decided to return to racing that year) took the holeshot, Carmichael passed him over the first triple. In fact, that is where the famous photo of the two titans pointing at each other is from. It was quite clear that stealing a win was not a realistic goal for McGrath. However, the nostalgic fans were understandably ecstatic to see him out front again.

After disposing of Jeremy, Ricky established an impressive lead. Meanwhile, Chad Reed (the reigning champion) quickly moved into second on lap two, after an average start. But, there was already a large gap between him and RC, which meant that he had a very tough task on his hands. For the most part the gap between the two was stagnant, except for when either rider made a mistake, which happened quite frequently. Most guys were on a two-stroke in 2005 (it wasn’t until the next year that four-strokes really took over), which meant mistakes were imminent.

With three laps to go, both riders had lapped up to seventh and were separated by just over two seconds. Those backmarkers helped Reed a lot on that night, as Carmichael struggled to pass them, which allowed

him to inch closer. When Chad could see that he had a shot at the win, his lap times decreased significantly, as the adrenaline undoubtedly helped him to keep pushing. In comparison, RC was feeling the pressure, and made more mistakes as a result.

Reed was not close enough to make a pass until the final lap, when he pulled alongside Ricky in the first set of whoops. Chad was known for being strong in that section (hence why his nickname was ‘Skippy’). Reed then made a split second decision in the next turn, and moved to the inside, which enabled him to block pass Ricky and halt his forward momentum.

With very little time to retaliate, Ricky went all out in an attempt to stop his rival from taking his first win of the season. However, this hurt him, as he entered the final whoops section all guns blazing, and crashed hard. Although he still salvaged a second, he let Chad take a much-needed main event win, and the momentum that goes with that. If there is one thing that all of the riders agree on, it is that you cannot give Reed an opportunity like that – that rings true to this day.

The fans that were present that night witnessed a superb display from the top two, as they lapped a majority of the field with ease - rarely do we see such dominance,

RACE REWIND


VICE - A - GRAM


Although the 2014 Motocross des Nations is still quite far off, we are nearing the time where everyone starts to bench-race about who should be on the various squads. Obviously, seeing as we are a British company, we are most interested in who will be selected for team GB. So, this was the question that we put to you (the fans) this month.

Question: Whom do you think should be selected for the British Motocross des Nations team this year, and why?Harry Leverett (Facebook): Shaun Simpson in MX1, Tommy Searle in MX2 and Jake Nicholls in the Open. I [would] have Tommy back on the 250F, as he has the speed. On the 450F he lacks the muscle into the corners and is easily passed, whereas Shaun seems to be up for more of a fight.

Jake is more suited to the 450F, being a bigger lad, and he has been to the MXdN a

couple of times before, so he knows what he is doing. His teammate is from Latvia too, so maybe he will have a bit of inside knowledge.

Frazer Buckingham (Facebook): [Dean] Wilson, [Tommy] Searle and [Shaun] Simpson should go, because it’s just the strongest team and all three are capable of good results.

Lewis Phillips (Facebook): Tommy will definitely be in MX1, there’s no way that they would think about leaving him off of the team. If Dean Wilson doesn’t get picked for MX2, I’ll be shocked. They have to put him in - it’s that simple.

The Open spot should be between Nicholls and Simpson; the decision should be based on their form closer to the time. It has to be between those four, no one else is in the same league, in my opinion.

Daniel Hartley (Facebook): Tommy Searle should be in MX1, Dean Wilson in MX2 and Shaun Simpson in the Open, because they are the three fastest British riders.

Yan Dixon (Facebook): [Max] Anstie, Searle and Simpson – they are our best three riders in the GPs by far. Wilson is far too fragile.

Sean Ogden (Facebook): If everyone is healthy (and hopefully these three will be)

then Tommy Searle, Dean Wilson and Shaun Simpson should go; they are probably our fastest riders.

If one of them did get injured, I think I would put Max Anstie in their place. He showed he had the speed at round one, and he has ridden a 450F at the MXdN before, with some success.

James Burfield (Twitter): Searle, Wilson if fit (if not Nicholls on a 250F) and Simpson, I think, it is a tough one.

Elliot Phillips (Facebook): There is no way that it can be anyone other than Tommy Searle (MX1), Dean Wilson (MX2) and Shaun Simpson (Open).

We have a lot of great riders, but if everyone were healthy these would be my three. If one of them does get injured, Jake Nicholls or Max Anstie should be the first ones to fill a spot.

Nick Shaw (Facebook): I would obviously put Tommy Searle in MX1, but what about sticking Dean Wilson on a 450F in the Open class? Shaun Simpson and Jake Nicholls know how to ride a 250F, and Dean could win that class, I think. We are in a good spot, because we have so many versatile riders. Bring on Latvia!


Following months of anticipation, Milestone released their latest game, MXGP, in March. MXGP (the official motocross videogame) features sixty riders, sixty teams, the rules and the tracks from the 2013 FIM Motocross World Championship. Since it was released, MXGP has received countless positive reviews from many people. Everyone wants it!

We are giving one lucky fan the chance to win a copy of the MXGP game (for either an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation 3). All you have to do is correctly answer this question: Please email all answers to [email protected]. A winner will then be selected (at random) at the end of the month. Good luck!

COMPETITION

Who has the most GP wins, Gautier Paulin or Clement Desalle?

a) Gautier Paulinb) Clement Desalle

Terms and Conditions: Only UK residents may enter. The winner will be notified via email. All answers must be emailed to [email protected]

The Columnists


I’m back now, which feels good to say! I can’t believe it’s been ten weeks since my injury – that’s crazy! So, what has been going on in my time off?I had to be on total rest after my second operation, well, I was sort of forced if you like by the doctor. He said I was doing too much before, so I had a pretty boring time for two weeks, but I was straight back at it in the gym every day as soon as I was given the all clear. I was there twice a day a lot of the time, rehabbing my shoulder and trying to get fit and strong again.

I’ve been back on the bike now for just over three weeks. The first few times were a little sore, but I really did not think I had lost any speed at all, maybe I wasn’t as sharp, but my speed felt good. Ryan (my mechanic) came down for a few days to get me back into the swing of things, and to get my bike dialled in. We had a couple of new things to try, too, and ever since then I have been riding as much as possible.

I was pretty bummed out after hurting myself, as I felt that I was just starting to find myself, and I hadn’t been able to show what I was capable of on a 450F. But, I now have the rest of the season for that, starting this weekend at Whitby, which is a track that I love.

It’s not all bad though, as I was given the opportunity to go to the Ron Haslam road race school the other week, and I can honestly say it was

the most fun I have had in a long time. I loved every second of it – I had a smile from ear to ear the whole time! I even managed to scrape up my old knee sliders, which was cool! It feels really weird at first, but after a couple of times it’s the best feeling ever.

Well that’s about it really, I don’t have a lot to say, as I’ve not been up to much except training and riding. But, it all kicks off again for me this weekend at Whitby. I hope to see a lot of you there, cheering on the 44 that will hopefully be at the front of the pack.

Also, when I heard the news that Joel Roelants was hurt I was gutted! He is such a cool guy, and so down to earth. Everyone is thinking of you buddy, and I hope you get better soon. #SupportJR

VIDEO:

Motivation has now dropped! My cousin (who owns Bedia Productions) and I have been shooting some good stuff over the last few months, and I think we have come up with something pretty cool, so watch out for the link on my Twitter and Facebook page (@EBanksBrowne) and let me know what you think.

UP NEXT:

Whitby is this weekend, and I can’t wait – I love that place! I’ve always done well there, so I’m happy to be making my return at such an awesome track.

EBB #44


The ColumistsThe Columnists


It has been another busy month of racing, and I’m enjoying it more than ever! The season is in full swing now, and we are at the point where we need to make that extra push for the rest of the season. You also know now what realistic goals you need to push for. But, I’ll take it race by race and give one hundred percent, as always.The British GP was the highlight of the last month for me, as there is no better feeling than racing in front of your home fans. It gives you that extra push, and it seems to help me as I ride well. Matterley Basin is such a fun track, as well. It is one of (if not) the best tracks in the UK, so it is beyond me why there isn’t a British Championship round there!

Matterley was an awesome round for me, overall, although I made it a lot tougher than it should have been. Two crashes in the first race left me playing catch-up, and a bad start in the second race meant I had to pull through the field. But, despite that, I was really happy with my riding, and in the end it was worth it, because I was rewarded with a podium, which was a great feeling.

With no EMX250 round on the weekend after that, I got to race the MX Nationals at Pontrilas, which was a great weekend for me. I qualified second and won the first two motos, but the chain came off and smashed the casings as I passed for the lead in the final moto, so I couldn’t continue. Despite the bad luck, I was really happy with my riding again. I enjoy racing these races, because there isn’t as much

pressure and it gives you extra race practice. Pontrilas was also one of the most technical tracks that I’ve ridden in a while!

I got to go to the 2015 KTM launch this month, and I have to say the bikes get better every year. It was a good day, because it was a change from doing my usual training of motos and sprints, and just being able to ride some of the new bikes for fun was great. Riding two strokes is always good as well!

After some fun at the KTM launch, I was on the plane to Italy for another round of the EMX250 series. The weekend started off great with third in my qualifying group, which left me sixth in the combined times. I got a good start in fourth in the first race, and moved into third on the first lap. I lost my rhythm and tightened up towards the end, because of a lapper ignoring the blue flags, which left me fifth at the flag.

I got a bad start in the second race, and another rider knocked my bike into neutral on the first hill, so I rolled back down. I managed to get back to eighth and salvage some points, which I was happy with. It was frustrating to lose more points in the championship, but the battle for second is real close now, so I hope to gain some points back in Sweden.

Consistency is key in that championship, as there are so many fast riders. If you make one mistake it is really hard to regroup and pull through. Riding these races really helps me to improve, and it’s showing, because I’m always getting stronger. If you want to compete in MX2, these races are exactly what you need to help you progress to that next level.

I hope to see you around soon, but until then, ride safe and have fun!

#811

ADAM STERRY

The Columnists


In recent years, the MX2 age restriction rule has garnered a lot of attention, as there have been mixed reviews. There were a handful of rumours floating around at Matterley Basin, which suggested that this rule might change prior to the 2015 season. However, Giuseppe Luongo has stated that this is not the case.Admittedly, I am not the biggest fan of this rule, but it seems to be working as Youthstream intended, hence why I was not surprised to hear that they elected to keep it in place. It was first implemented to ensure that a majority of the top guys are in the MXGP class, so that it is looked at as the premier division. In turn, this would also open up more slots on the MX2 teams for the younger riders, and aid their development.

However, most people are understandably concerned that there aren’t enough MXGP teams to cater to the influx of MX2 riders that have to move up at the end of the year. It does seem as though some great riders will be left without a chair when the music stops, unfortunately. This would also be negative for the series, as the premier class is not benefitting if the young riders choose to go to the USA, because there are no rides on good teams left here.

One of the greatest challenges that Youthstream face is trying to keep the MX2 riders in the FIM Motocross World Championship, rather than them leaving for pastures new in the USA. If a rider struggles to secure the type of MXGP contract that they believe they are deserving of, they

may see America as a viable option. The same goes for a guy that would like to stay on a 250F longer, because they do not feel that they are ready to move up.

This is probably the thing that concerns me the most – some riders are simply better on the 250F, and therefore would like to spend a little longer on that bike. There is no harm in that (although I do think that there should be a cut off point), but all of these guys are robbed of that chance, which may be detrimental to their career. For instance, Joel Roelants probably would have benefitted from staying on the 250F another year; he was just finding his stride when he was forced to move up in circumstances that were less than ideal.

This is why a handful of people would like to see the rule altered slightly, so that riders have to move up when they are twenty-five. It is unknown if there were some serious discussions about the rule changing to this, but either way, the rule is staying the same, and you have to applaud Youthstream for sticking to their guns. There will always be positives and negatives, and the age restriction rule certainly has both. But, the fact that it is there to help the young riders (and the sport) grow is something that is often overlooked by fans.

Although there have not been too many EMX250 riders that have moved up and filled a spot that has been vacated by a guy that has been forced out of the MX2 class, there will be more riders that benefit in the coming years, I’m sure. I am honestly concerned how the MX2 class will be affected by the rule. Will the lack of ‘big names’ mean that the title loses credibility? I think that both classes should be looked at as equal, as every rider at that level is great.

Most of the changes that Youthstream have made have worked out well for the series, and the sport, so there is no reason to think that this one will have negative repercussions. So, I have faith in this decision too. It will certainly be intriguing to see how this rule changes our perception of the series in the coming years.

LEWIS PHILLIPS


BRITISH MOTOCROSS: MID-TERM REPORT


BRITISH MOTOCROSS: MID-TERM REPORT

Now that the British motocross season is at the halfway point, a lot of the riders and teams are reflecting on what has transpired so far this year. So with this in mind, we have decided to do the same, and grade the squads that sit in the top ten in either the MX1 or MX2 class at the Maxxis British Championship on how they have fared.


HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY KTM UK (A+):

The Hitachi Construction Machinery KTM UK team has been dominant thus far, as their riders took the overall wins at the first three rounds. Shaun Simpson (MX1) and Mel Pocock (MX2) currently lead the standings in their respective classes, too, so they are in a great spot moving forward. Although neither rider has been the fastest in every race, their consistency is unrivalled; this is undoubtedly their greatest tool.

Of course, there are many other guys beneath the KTM UK tent as well. Ben Watson has been very impressive thus far, as he has grabbed many headlines. Although he has not yet won a race in the Maxxis British Championship, I’m certain that he will be on the top step soon. He has won an MX Nationals round already, and he has had success away from the UK, so he’s on the rise! Unfortunately, James Cottrell and James Dunn are both out with injuries at the moment, so the team awning is emptier than it was at the start of the year.

We expect Cottrell to return sooner rather than later, but Dunn will be on the sidelines for a while. Both riders were doing well before their injuries, as they finished inside of the top ten consistently, which is where we thought they would be. The Hitachi Construction Machinery KTM UK team has been faultless in our domestic series thus far; they will be tough to beat in the second half.

WILVO FORKRENT KTM (A):

The three Wilvo Forkrent KTM riders (Jake Nicholls, Matiss Karro and Adam Sterry) are some of the fastest riders in the series - they are certainly capable of defeating the official KTM UK team. Specifically, Jake and Matiss are right in the thick of their respective title fights, and at times have proven that they are the fastest. If they can harness that, they may emerge from the second half as the champions.

Although Karro sits second in the MX2 standings, he has won a majority of the races. In fact, he has only lost five of the twelve motos that have been run thus far this year. Some crashes have cost him points in the races that he has lost, but he is still just three points behind Pocock (the series leader). Jake Nicholls was right with Simpson after the first four rounds. However, a torrid time at Whitby has left him with a large gap to overcome. It seems an injury may hinder his progress, too, so his season has been turned upside down!

The Wilvo Forkrent KTM team has had a great start to the year, as their youngest rider, Adam Sterry, has also won a race in the MX2 class at the Maxxis British Championship. Although he has been inconsistent, Adam could become a firm fixture up on the podium soon - he has the speed!

Ben Watson has been very impressive thus far


DANTEC HUSQVARNA UK (A-):

The Dantec Husqvarna UK team has undoubtedly been one of the greatest surprises thus far this year, as both Nathan Watson and Steven Lenoir have been impressive. When it was first announced that Nathan was stepping up to the 450F, some were skeptical. However, he has really come out of his shell and proven himself against some GP regulars. He has beaten the reigning British champion (Kristian Whatley) with ease a lot of the time; in fact, he has a commanding lead in the MX Nationals after four rounds.

Husqvarna have certainly made a successful return to British motocross, as they have spent a lot of time on the top of the podium, thanks to Nathan Watson. Steven Lenoir (the team’s MX2 rider) was on the sidelines for the month of April, unfortunately, which has ended his championship hopes. But, he has still finished on the box multiple times, which is what we expect of him.

There may be four rounds remaining, but it is going to be tough for anyone to steal the MX1 MX Nationals title from Nathan Watson. He has won three of the first four rounds and has a forty-five-point lead at the moment, so he is in a good spot. With this in mind, it’s likely that the Dantec Husqvarna UK team will have a number one plate beneath their tent in October, which is the ultimate goal.

PUTOLINE APICO HONDA (A-):

It seems that Neville Bradshaw flies under the radar a lot of the time, as he keeps his head down and does what he needs to do in order to succeed. For the second consecutive year, Neville is the main protagonist on the Putoline Apico Honda squad - he has obtained some brilliant finishes for the team. In the Maxxis British Championship, the South African sits in third currently, although a DNF at the most recent round has left him quite far behind the two leaders.

His main goal for the rest of the year will be to stay in the top three, which is realistic. Neville had three lackluster finishes at Landrake, but since then he has only dropped outside of the top five twice, and has spent a lot of time up on the podium, like he does each year. Unsurprisingly he has a firm grasp on the red plate in the MX2 class at the MX Nationals as well, so he may clinch another title for the Putoline Apico Honda team.

James Harrison (the second rider on the team) has had a fairly turbulent start to the season, as he has not delivered the type of finishes that most expect of him. However, he has had to overcome some large injuries in recent years, which has delayed his progress. We expect him to continue to post top ten finishes in the coming weeks, like he did at Whitby, which would make the 2014 season a very successful one for Putoline Apico Honda.

The Dantec Husqvarna UK team has undoubtedly been one of the greatest surprises thus far this year


MBO SPORT YAMAHA (B+):

In comparison to the very successful season that they had in 2013, this year may seem a bit bleak for the MBO Sport Yamaha team. However, their squad was looking very strong until injuries hit their MX2 riders (Lewis Trickett and Liam Garland). Lewis specifically was a revelation before he dislocated his hip – he emerged as a consistent top five finisher in both the Maxxis British Championship and the MX Nationals. Unfortunately, he isn’t going to return this year, but he has certainly made an impression on the industry.

Liam Garland has been hindered by a handful of injuries over the last year. After missing the whole of 2013 with a torn ACL, he has dealt with further issues so far this season, so he has only appeared at a handful of rounds. We have been very impressed with Liam when he has been on-track, as he has shown a lot of potential. Unfortunately, he too is out for the season, which leaves just one rider beneath the MBO Sport Yamaha tent.

Although Kristian Whatley has not met the very high expectations that most had of him after his dominant display last year, he has still been quite impressive. You have to remember that the level of his competition is a lot higher this year, as two GP regulars have entered the fray. Whatley still sits third in the Maxxis British Championship standings, and is beating all of the guys that he raced against in 2014, so his season hasn’t been bad. He appears to be getting faster each week, also, so he should steal some wins in the coming weeks.

PENDRICH KAWASAKI (B+):

After achieving a lot of success last year, Bryan Mackenzie was looking for much of the same at the beginning of this season. For the most part, he has met expectations thus far – he has already clinched some victories in the two series that he competes in (the Maxxis British Championship and the MX Nationals). Following four rounds, the Scotsman sits in fifth in our premier domestic series. He definitely has the pace to finish higher up than that; however, some

inconsistent races have hindered him in the first half of the season.

In the MX Nationals, Bryan has a shot at clinching the championship. With four rounds remaining, he is only nineteen points down on the series leader, which isn’t too big a gap. Mackenzie was much closer than that before the most recent round (Pontrilas). However, an incident in race one cost him a chunk of points. Pendrich Kawasaki is the official Kawasaki UK squad in the MX2 class this year, and they have certainly delivered thus far.

After missing a couple of rounds with a hip injury, Ross Rutherford returned at the

beginning of May. Obviously Ross has been building himself back up since then, so he has not obtained the type of results that he desires. If he chips away at it

and avoids any further issues, he will surely register some top ten finishes soon enough.

BUILDBASE HONDA (B):

Unfortunately, injuries have hindered Buildbase Honda thus far, hence why their grade is not as high as you would expect it to be. Despite the various health issues, the squad has taken a handful of podium finishes this year, and even a win (thanks to Brad Anderson at Whitby). At the start of the season, Anderson seemingly struggled; however, he flicked a switch after the second Maxxis British Championship round, and turned it around. Although some of the fans have questioned whether he still has the fire required to contend for victories, he has shown that he is more than capable.

Elliott Banks-Browne was having a steady start to his first season in the premier class, before he succumbed to injury. EBB looked ready to breakthrough at FatCat, the round that put him onto the sidelines. This was obviously a huge blow for the Buildbase Honda squad, but that’s the nature of this sport. With his title aspirations ruined, Elliott will be able to focus solely on winning races when he returns, and we think he is going to do a lot of that.

After missing the first few rounds with a knuckle injury, Nathan Parker has not yet

obtained too many noteworthy finishes. However, they will come with time - he missed a crucial part of the season. The most recent MX Nationals round showed where he could be, as he raced with the top five for a lot of the day. With all three guys out on-track, Buildbase Honda may have a large presence at the front of the pack in the second half of the year.

APICO LPE KAWASAKI (B-):

It originally looked like LPE Kawasaki were not going to be around this year, so the fact that they have made a couple of trips to the podium (and even taken a race win) so far this year is commendable. Gert Krestinov is the one leading the squad into battle, and he has done a great job; he seems to have adapted to his new surroundings with ease. Unsurprisingly, the Estonian has been the strongest in the sand – he took a moto win at FatCat (the second MX Nationals round) and would have dominated, had a mechanical issue not hit him.

Admittedly he has been a bit inconsistent, which has hindered him in the two series that he contests. In the Maxxis British Championship, Gert will be trying to secure a top five finish at the end of the year, which he is more than capable of. He is in a similar spot in the MX Nationals (fifth) too, and he is right in the thick of the battle for third in the MX1 class.

HEADS AND ALL THREADS SUZUKI (C+):

There is a diverse group of riders beneath the Heads and All Threads Suzuki tent, hence why this grade probably is not what you would expect. Of course, if we were rating Graeme Irwin alone, it would be much higher. Although he has been slightly inconsistent, the Irishman has shown a lot of speed - it is actually surprising that he has not yet topped the podium. In fact, Graeme has only finished on the podium in one Maxxis British Championship moto this year. So you could argue that he has not met the high expectations that some have of him.

The two MX2 riders on the squad (Luke Burton and Ryo Sato) have failed to deliver thus far; they have garnered just a few points between them. Ryo is out with a shoulder injury at the moment, so the second half of the year will not be any easier for him.

Lewis specifically was a revelation before he

dislocated his hip


Buildbase Honda may have a large presence at the front of the pack in the second half of the year


JAR HONDA (C+):

The JAR Honda duo of Matt Moffat and Lewis Tombs have really come out of their shells this year, and garnered some impressive results. Matt specifically has exceeded the expectations that most had of him pre-season; he has emerged as a consistent top ten finisher in both the Maxxis British Championship and the MX Nationals. Unfortunately, he has been out of action in recent weeks, because of an injury, but he is back on-track now, and will continue to impress, I am sure.

Although Lewis Tombs’ finishes have mirrored what he achieved last year, for the most part, he has had some notable results, such as a pair of sevenths at Lyng. In the MX Nationals, he has had more success, including a fourth in two motos. In fact, he may end up on the box by the end of the year, but he will first have to overcome the wrist injury that he is dealing with at the moment.

PHOENIX TOOLS HONDA (C+):

The Phoenix Tools Honda team has two strong riders (Alex Snow and Luke Hawkins) beneath their awning this year. Alex is a veteran, so we all know what he is capable of; he has been a lot stronger than his results may indicate. Unfortunately he has scored no points in two of the twelve motos that have been run, which has obviously hindered him. In the races that he has finished, Snow has been either sixth or seventh a lot of the time, which is quite impressive.

Luke Hawkins has had a turbulent time in the Maxxis British Championship, but he broke through this past weekend, as he finished in the top ten for the first time this year, and actually inched closer to the top five, which bodes well for the rest of the season. Of course, both riders are dominating the Phoenix Tools Premier South West Championship too.

DYER AND BUTLER KTM (C-):

The Dyer and Butler KTM team has had a very consistent start to the season, as their riders (Jamie Law and Steven Clarke) have been there each week, and posted respectable results. But, at the same time, neither guy has had any breathtaking rides either. Although Clarke is stealing headlines in Europe at the moment, he has failed to replicate that form in our domestic series, strangely, as he has not yet finished on the moto podium. Everyone knows that he is capable. After all, he won a race last year!

Jamie Law is having a similar season to what he had last year, as he is again finishing around eighth quite frequently. However, he did have some flashes of brilliance in 2013 (like a third at round six), and these have not materialized thus far this year. But, we expect him to build on this solid foundation, and inch closer to the top five in the coming weeks.


OAKLEAF KAWASAKI (C):

The Oakleaf Kawasaki team has had a turbulent start to the year, as they have experienced a few highs and lows, which is why we have awarded them this grade. The poor start that they had was well documented - everyone knows that their riders (Shane Carless and Priit Rätsep) underperformed. Things seemed quite bleak for them at one point, as both guys struggled to break into the top ten at a couple of rounds.

Following this, most were left bewildered - Shane and Priit are obviously more than capable, and their bikes are some of the best in the pits! Fortunately they turned it around soon after this, and recently they have had some better results. Carless had a good ride in the final race at the fourth Maxxis British Championship round, and he finished in third overall at Pontrilas (the fourth MX Nationals round). Rätsep has improved, also, as he has had consistent results in both series. Things are looking up for Oakleaf Kawasaki, and the second half of the season could be even better for them.

- Shane and Priit are obviously more than capable, and their bikes are some

of the best in the pits

Honorable Mentions: GL12 Racing (B)

MVRD Honda (C) Talon Kawasaki (D)

Mad Dog CCR Suzuki (D)

Words by Lewis Phillips



TALON-ENG.COM


We caught up with an open and honest Elliott recently, to discuss many different topics, including his return to racing, his injury, training, the MXGP series and much more!

MX Vice: How did the injury happen, and how is the rehab coming along?

EBB: It was at the MX Nationals at FatCat; it was a big crash in the end. I was leading the race, and the back-marker either did not see the blue flag or chose to ignore it. I was shouting at him to let him know that I was there, and then we came up to a gnarly jump; he hit it on the left and it chucked him across the track. I was on the right trying to

miss him, and we came together. I thought I was going to land on him, so I tried to turn the bike, but I landed on his back wheel and went down pretty hard.

I didn’t actually land on my shoulder when I went down; I landed on my left hand side. But, I was still holding onto the bars and that is what ripped the ligament off of my collarbone. It was a pretty bad separation of my AC joint.

On the Thursday after the race I went to see Darren Roberts and he got me to see the surgeon, so I had surgery. I got an AC reconstruction, where they put some nylon into your shoulder and pull the collarbone back down. The original plan was to be back at Canada Heights, but I tried to ride on the Wednesday before [that event] and I was still in so much pain.

Every time that I did something my shoulder would swell up, so I had to go back to see the surgeon again, and he said there must be


Elliott Banks-Browne was hoping to

make a splash in his first year in the

premier MX1 class. However, a cruel

twist of fate at the end of April forced

him onto the sidelines, and scuppered

any title aspirations that he may have

had before the start of the season.

Unfortunately, he had to miss two

months, because of the injury - he made

his return at the fifth Maxxis British

Championship round this past weekend

(Whitby). EBB is determined to show

everyone that he has the speed required

to contend on the 450F, which will

make him a potential spoiler in the title

fight.

something up. I had another surgery, and he removed everything, but because it had been four weeks it had started to heal back. Whilst he was in there he took out the plate I had in from 2008, just to be on the safe side, so there wasn’t any infection. I had to leave it another three weeks before I could ride again.

Now everything is going in the right direction. I have been on the bike for a week; the first few times the shoulder got a bit tight, but my speed is good, so I am happy. I’m just trying to work in the gym and get back to where I was.

MX Vice: The injury came at a bad time, as you were just starting to come into a bit of good form after some arm pump issues at round one of the Maxxis British Championship.

EBB: Yeah, definitely! We were totally focused on the arenacross at the start of the year, and with the weather being so bad in England we were not really doing any motocross preparation. I messed up a

bit coming into the first round of the Maxxis British Championship – we changed something in my training and it messed my arms up pretty bad. The first round was a write-off, although I did okay with three fourths.

We went into the second round and I was feeling good at Lyng, but I had a massive crash in practice. All day I was just trying to survive, so I struggled. We were still struggling a little with bike set-up as well, so we went to Holland and we got the bike working very well.

So, going into FatCat I felt good and we were going in the right direction. I was starting to show a little bit of something, and I was happy with my riding and my bike. At least now I can go into the last part of the season happy with where my bike is. I just need to get this shoulder good, and then I can be back to where I was. I don’t think my speed has been affected – I feel good on the bike.


EVERY TIME THAT I DID SOMETHING MY SHOULDER WOULD SWELL UP, SO I HAD TO GO BACK TO SEE THE SURGEON AGAIN


EVERY TIME THAT I DID SOMETHING MY SHOULDER WOULD SWELL UP, SO I HAD TO GO BACK TO SEE THE SURGEON AGAIN

MX Vice: This is your first season on the 450. Do you like riding it and does the power suit you, or do you prefer the 250?

EBB: I definitely prefer the 450, to be fair; I think it suits my riding style. My riding style has changed a lot since I first got on the bike, as I seem to use the power a bit more. On the 250 I wanted to do that, but the power just was not there to do it. If you watch me ride a 250 from last year and the 450 now you cannot really compare – it is totally different. It’s a shame I haven’t really shown my potential so far. I just want to get out there and do what I know I can.

MX Vice: How much has Dave Thorpe helped you this year?

EBB: He has left me to my own program regarding doing my motos and the way that I train. I think he knows I have been doing it for a while now, and I guess each rider finds out what works for them and what doesn’t work for them. He is still involved, as my trainer speaks to him and tells him how I am doing.

At the races he does help out a lot, especially at Lyng when I had the big crash – he helped me get through it. Little things like line choice or what other riders are doing; stuff that other people who aren’t as into racing wouldn’t pick up. Just little bits here and there make a big difference after a while, he has definitely helped me and he doesn’t put any pressure on me, which is good. He treats you like a racer, because he has done it before, he knows you will put pressure on yourself. Dave has been awesome, you couldn’t work for anyone better and I am really happy with the team and my surroundings. I just need to get results now!

MX Vice: You turned pro pretty early at fifteen – I think you were racing the British GP back in 2006! How has your training and outlook changed from when you were that age?

EBB: There is a massive difference! When I came out of schoolboy racing I didn’t really think you had to train. I was doing well in the schoolboys, and then I went in and did a British Championship meeting when I was fifteen and finished seventh in the last race. I thought if I could do that I didn’t have to do any training, and could just go and race at the weekends.


But, you cannot do that when you go into the MXGP series. I was messing about for the first two years – I did not really know what to do! There was no one there to tell me what I should do or to show me how to do it.

In the first year at Swift Suzuki, we got a trainer and he showed me what to do – he nearly killed me in the winter! He made me understand what I needed to do and how hard I needed to work for it; he pushed me so hard and nearly broke me at times. But, he made me understand how hard I needed to work, so ever since then I have put the work in.

I have had different trainers over the years. I have done a bit of boxing training, we went into all different sorts of stuff, but now I think I have found what works for me, so that I can recover from the weekend and still be strong. At the moment I have a trainer down here called Adam Prescott; he trains me and Lewis Tombs, so I have a partner to push me all of the time, which is really good. Years ago I would go on a bike ride and think that was enough, but that is far from the truth when it

comes to motocross.

MX Vice: I was at Mantova in 2008 when you were on a Swift Suzuki, and you put a guy down to get the last spot to make it into the main race! How hard was that time from a racing perspective to make your way into the GPs and adapt to that speed?

EBB: For sure, in 2007 it was really tough. I struggled to get my head around qualifying and doing fast laps – I qualified a few times in 2007, but it was pretty rough. Going into 2008 I knew I had to make a lot of improvements. I worked on doing fast laps and I had to be able to do twenty minutes flat out (for the qualifying race).

In 2008, I did not qualify at Valkenswaard (the first round), but then I think I made it into pretty much every race after that. That was pretty hard back then; even if you were in the LCQ you were in with really good riders. It was just crazy. If you were around tenth or twelfth in the qualifier on the Saturday you did not want to be there, because everyone was gunning for

that spot!

No one wanted to go to the last chance, so you did whatever you could to make it. I think it was [Angelo] Pellegrini at that race in Italy. I punted him off of the track, and I actually got in trouble for it! But I did not want to go to the last chance, and he would have done the same thing to me!

MX Vice: Your family has had a lot of success in motocross. Was there a lot of pressure (before you won your two British titles) to do the same thing? Or did it help you to have those people with that experience around you?

EBB: I did not feel any pressure at all when I won my two British titles. The most pressure I felt to win was when I first went into the pros. The year that I won the schoolboy championship and those next two years after I felt like I had to win, because my family had done this and that, and he’s John Banks’ grandson. I think people expected more than I could give at that time.

Searle came in and did well straight away, but it took me a little bit longer. Once I got over that thing about my family, I sort of forgot about it and just wanted to make a name for myself. I slowly started to do that, and I won the Red Bull Pro Nationals championship and started to do better in the British. By the time that I won the [Maxxis] British Championship I think people had forgotten about the history a

little bit.

To be fair, there has not been any direct pressure from anyone in my family. I see kids at a race track and their parents are screaming and shouting at them – my family never did that, they just let me get on with it, they never forced me to ride a bike. I rode a bike because I wanted to ride. I think that has made me a better rider and a better person.

MX Vice: You mentioned when you went pro that you didn’t have guidance or anyone to help you. Do you feel that is changing now? Is it easier for a top schoolboy to find guidance?

EBB: I don’t think the young kids understand how hard it is. You see them do so well in the schoolboys, then they get to the adults and they fade away, because they want to go out with their mates and chase girls. You do lose out on a bit of your childhood, as you can’t go out drinking and go to all of these parties - that is the hard thing about it. But, there isn’t enough structure to tell the riders what it takes.


They start to give up when they get to where I was when I wasn’t training hard enough and wasn’t doing well in the races. I was lucky enough that I still had the support to keep going and find out for myself what I needed to do. If there was a better support structure for these kids we would see a lot more riders come through.

It is something that I want to do in the future, and something that I am working on now. We need it, and there are some good kids. If they are given the right guidance we could have another world champion in a few years’ time.

MX Vice: Do you think that the British Championship is underrated amongst continental GP teams? Some of the British guys are good in Britain, but it is hard for them to transfer that in a one-off wildcard ride at a GP.

EBB: It is hard. I do think that the teams recognise the British Championship, because good riders have gone there and got smoked – I think the teams see that. But when the British guys get a wildcard ride at the British GP, they cannot transfer that speed over. I think some of it is that the GP tracks are so much different now. There is not a track you can go to in England that is anything like a GP track. The ruts are so deep and gnarly, it is just totally different at a GP – I think that plays a little bit of a part in it.

There are riders in England that are better than some of the guys riding at the back in the MXGP and MX2 classes, but some of those guys are paying [for their rides]. If the sport had more money it would be better for sure.

MX Vice: Is that hard for a pretty talented guy who isn’t doing GPs, such as yourself, because the top riders at a GP are going so fast, and are constantly pulling away from someone that sticks to their domestic series? Does that worry you a bit for your future in GPs?

EBB: Yeah, it does a little bit. I think it is hard to enter the MXGP series halfway through a season and do well. If you have a good winter under your belt and everyone is at square one, it would be different, but when they are racing week in, week out, they are constantly getting faster. It is tough.

In the British Championship I could be riding around in fourth or fifth with a ten second gap in front or behind me, but then could be riding around in tenth at a GP and have a one second gap between myself and the guy in thirteenth. Those guys are all still giving one hundred and ten percent until the last lap, and I think that is the difference.

In the World Championship everyone is professional, and they put everything that they have into it; there are twenty people who are the

best in the world. It is tough – people say it isn’t as deep as it used to be, but I can assure you they are still the best guys in the world and they are going very, very fast.

MX Vice: Is it frustrating for you guys that you do not get the respect you deserve for finishing tenth in the World Championship? When you were in MX2 last year, everyone was saying [Jeffrey] Herlings was only winning because his competition wasn’t very good.

EBB: Yeah, it is hard. I don’t understand how Herlings goes as fast as he does, and I don’t think anyone else does. He is absolutely phenomenal, but the trouble is it just makes everyone else look slow!

The rest are still the best guys in the world – he is just that much better than them for some reason. If Jeffrey wasn’t there it would be a very good race, any of the top ten could win. When I was there in 2013, anyone from third to eleventh could be on the podium. If I got a good start and had a good day, I could have been in that mix.

Interview by Jonathan McCready


BEACH PARTY!


Since its inception, the Pro Nationals series has garnered a lot of mixed reviews, for various reasons. However, the demise of the series sent shockwaves through the paddock, as most were left floundering to try and find somewhere to hone their skills.Fortunately, the Pro Nationals did not disappear completely, as Matt Bates started the ‘Pro Nationals Festival’ - an event that would run once a year at Weston-super-Mare. When this was first announced,

some were sceptical. Rarely do we see a novelty race like this run mid season - you would think that most riders would rather not risk injury at an event that they are not contractually obligated to do, which was the case for most.

However, despite this, most of the top British teams and riders contested the inaugural ‘Pro Nationals Festival’. Fortunately, a lot of the guys had a good weekend, and didn’t sustain an injury, although some (namely Jordan Divall) saw their season end at the scenic venue.

So, why did the riders choose to compete in the event? We asked a lot of the top guys (and some team members too) why they chose to do it, whether it was worth the risk, and what they thought of the race, which prompted some intriguing responses.

Graeme Irwin (Heads and All Threads Suzuki): “It was a team


decision to race there, but we also did it for a fun weekend of riding motorbikes on the beach. There is a risk every time that you put your leg over the bike, whether it is at a one off event or just at a practice track. I thought it was good. [They were] a bit unlucky with the weather, but all in all I had a fun weekend.”

Lewis Gregory (GL12 Racing): “I chose to do it as it is not too far from me, and it was a good event last year. I don't think it was a risk – going to a practice track can be just as dangerous. I thought it was a good race as a whole. It’s a shame that things ran a bit late on Saturday, but there's nothing you can do about the weather.”

Neville Bradshaw (Putoline Apico Honda): “The organisers and my team had a falling out in the week before, so we decided not to do it. I spent three days riding and caught a race at Blaxhall, which was really good training. Everyday that we ride there is a risk, so I do not

really look at it like that, but I'm glad how my weekend turned out.”

Ryan Thorpe (Buildbase Honda): “Riders can get injured when they go practicing at anytime during the season, so from that side no, I do not think that it was a risk. Racing is good, and the more racing that we can do is better for the teams that only race in Britain. It helps the riders keep sharp; you can do motos at a practice track, but you cannot beat a gate drop with thirty-nine other riders.

Matt [Bates] and his team always put on fantastic events. They battled against bad weather, but still did a top job. There was great racing, and by far the biggest crowd that we have seen this year. It was a good weekend, and we are looking forward to next year!”

Alex Snow (Phoenix Tools Honda): “We decided to do it to fill one of our free weekends. It fitted in around the Phoenix Tools Championship and was great for our local sponsor, seeing as we

are based in the southwest.

I do not think that it was riskier than any other race. You could ask yourself that when you do the British GP. Seeing as we are only halfway through the year, all the bike time that we can get is good. Maybe the situation would be a little different if it was the end of the year and we were in the hunt for a championship.

I thought that it was a great event that was different to normal, and it was cool to have the head to head ‘whoop loop’. I definitely think that the sport can benefit from having these types of events. It is fun, and attracts a different group of spectators, which is what we need right now. It is just a shame about the rain!”

Rarely do we see a novelty

race like this run mid

season


Nathan Parker (Buildbase Honda): “I chose to ride at the Pro Nationals, mainly to get some more race time beneath my belt, as I missed the first few rounds with an injury. But, also because Matt [Bates] (although he gets a lot of bad press) always puts on a good show! The Red Bull Pro Nationals last year was by far the most enjoyable series to be at!

I would not want to invite outside sponsors to the other events in the UK, as they do not put on a show. Unless you are really into the sport, you will be bored and unimpressed! There is a risk every time that we ride our bikes, so the weekend at Weston was just another chance to get some more race fitness!”

Dan Thornhill (Fowlers Honda): “I chose to ride the ‘Pro Nationals Festival’, because I really enjoyed the event last year. The track is tough and the standard of rider was very high. For me, there was no risk. I missed the start of the season due to illness, so I went in all guns blazing and enjoyed every minute of it.

The event was good, although the typical English weather spoilt it a little. But, the racing still went ahead and the action was great! For me, the ‘whoop loop’ was the highlight – the fans and the riders loved it!”

Luke Hawkins (Phoenix Tools Honda): “I did not get to do the event last year, so I thought I might as well do it, seeing as it was only thirty minutes away. I thought it was a good event; it is just a shame that the weather killed it a bit. But it was a good, overall.”

Nathan Watson (Dantec Husqvarna UK): “It was always our plan to do it. I like racing at Weston, so I always wanted to do it. Matt Bates puts a lot of effort into his events, as well, so he always puts on good races with a good atmosphere – I enjoy doing his events.

I don’t see the races as a risk. You can’t shy away from the races just because you are doing good elsewhere. I did it for some fun, as there was pretty much no pressure. We need to try and get as much money as possible during the year, too, as there are not that many races!

I thought that it was a great event; there was a lot of effort put in and I believe it paid off. It was a shame about the weather, which affected the schedule a bit. However, there was still a great turnout.”

Shaun Anthony (Oakleaf Kawasaki): “We had a great year at the event in 2013, so we were always going to return. The atmosphere and organization is exactly what a top

I WOULD NOT WANT TO INVITE OUTSIDE SPONSORS TO THE OTHER

EVENTS IN THE UK

The atmosphere and organization is exactly what a top event should have


event should have, so we just cannot miss out on that. I would say that it is the next big thing after the British GP, and I hope it gets bigger. It is local to where we are based too, so it is good for our main sponsor, as it is within the area that they cover.

Of course it was worth it! Although we came away from the meeting without the results that we wanted, the actual event was great. It makes it a lot easier to leave the track when it is run well and there are big crowds. People do not see the hard work in the week, and it is something that keeps the vibe going. Sometimes you leave an event and wonder what the point is when the promoters are not on the same page as the top teams.Matt Bates took a risk and put on a brilliant event. He promoted it really well, and I think it was a success. I think others need to take note of what he does – it is a shame that the Red Bull Pro Nationals had to stop. I think it is sorely missed in British motocross.”

Everyone that was quizzed on the topic seemed to have similar feelings, although some seemingly felt stronger than others. Interestingly, no one believes that it is riskier to race at an event like this, despite the fact that every rider pushes harder as soon as the gates drop. But as the MX1 victor (Nathan Watson) mentioned, British riders have to take advantage of every opportunity to take home some prize money. Unfortunately that’s an issue that most run into.

Although the horrid weather played havoc with proceedings, the common consensus within the paddock is that the ‘Pro Nationals Festival’ is an asset to British motocross. It does seem that Matt Bates and his crew are following the example set by Feld Motorsports in the USA. At each Monster Energy Supercross round, there is a lot of activation around the pits, which aids them in their quest to entice some new fans; the Pro Nationals have followed suit. This is the ultimate goal for everyone that is involved in our sport, obviously, as we all want to see it grow.


Admittedly, some have different ideas on how to do this. At the MX Nationals, for instance, they have implemented a lower ticket price, which is their unique selling point. What is the USP of the Pro Nationals? They have the various activities that go on away from the circuit, which include Monster Trucks, Bungee Jumping, FMX, BMX shows, and more. This tends to work most of the time, especially at Weston-super-Mare, where the younger demographic (that would typically be attracted to the sport) are just a stone’s throw away.

The question that I have heard most raise is will these new fans stick around? Although they are exposed to the riders, teams and sponsors for one weekend, it’s unknown whether they will continue to take a keen interest in the sport, and therefore put money into it. There are probably only a select few that do that, honestly. But, the fact that they have been exposed to it is a

step in the right direction.

Judging by the comments made post-race, it sounds like the ‘Pro Nationals Festival’ will be back next year, and it is probably going to be even bigger, too! It’s possible that there may be multiple festivals in the future, also, and they may end up at more beaches. I think that they will have to find a way to separate each event, if they are going to do more than one, but that is something for them to consider at a much later date.

Are events like the ‘Pro Nationals Festival’ the future of our sport? Well, who knows what is around the corner. However, the riders are clearly happy to do them. Interestingly, one guy mentioned that he would prefer to do novelty races like this, instead of the stereotypical championship rounds, so the demand is there.




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Wow, the season is flying by! It seems like only yesterday we were watching Dylan Ferrandis and Max Nagl take the first moto wins of the season beneath the lights in Qatar. But, we are now in the second half of the year, which usually generates some different results. With this in mind, we thought that it would be a good time to outline some of the things that you may want to look out for in the coming weeks.

THE MXGP CRYSTAL BALL


Antonio Cairoli is usually a lot stronger in the second half of the season, which must be quite worrying for his main competitors. The FIM Motocross World Championship obviously takes its toll on all of the riders; the schedule is grueling! The guys have to stay on top form, whilst travelling around the world and completing their strict training regime, hence why this is the toughest sport on the planet. But, Antonio knows how to deal with that.

Anyway, I digress. Since he first moved up onto the 450F, Antonio has won a majority of

the races in the second half of the year. It is not surprising that every year pans out this way; he is the strongest (mentally and physically) MXGP rider, hence why he always excels when the going gets tough. Unfortunately, his father tragically passed away following the GP of Spain, which has obviously been difficult for him, and may have had a slight impact on his finishes, but the fact that he has shown up each week is a testament to how strong he is.

Amazingly, Cairoli has finished the full MXGP season the last five years, so he knows what

is required, whereas some of his MXGP rivals are more inexperienced in this area. Specifically, Clement Desalle rarely makes it through a full season uninjured, but admittedly he did a full year in 2013, and reeled off three successive GP victories in the latter part of the season. Clement may actually be better equipped to continue his challenge for the crown this year.

If you cast your mind back to the beginning of this year, you will remember that the Belgian struggled at the first few rounds. Desalle only started riding a couple of weeks before round

one, because of his shoulder injury. Although this meant that he had to play catch-up in the series standings, it may help him maintain his current pace for longer; he won’t start feeling worn down as soon.

Hopefully this will be the case, as the MXGP title fight is enthralling at the moment. Clement has proven to be a worthy competitor, as he has consistently matched the speed that Cairoli possesses. In fact, he has been consistently faster than the Sicilian - this is the strongest that we have seen the Rockstar Energy Suzuki pilot in quite some


time. In an ideal world, the rest of the rounds are going to follow this pattern; that is what we want to see!

Quietly, there is a third guy in the MXGP title fight, as Jeremy van Horebeek is not out of this thing! Jeremy has been a revelation this year, as he has emerged from the field as a race win contender. Although he hasn’t yet won a moto in the premier division, it is bound to happen soon, and his confidence is going to rise when it does, which will make him quite dangerous. Consistency has been his greatest strength so

far, and if he continues to obtain that valuable trait he will remain close to the seven-time world champion in the standings.

Surprisingly, van Horebeek has just one overall victory to his name (Bellpuig in 2009), so the situation that he is in is unfamiliar to him. It will be quite interesting to see how he reacts to this, as the pressure and expectations can affect different guys in different ways. Judging by the way that he handles himself, I would say that he is ready for the step up.

Of course, there are a couple of

Antonio Cairoli is

usually a lot stronger in the second half of the

season


injured riders that will play a role in the title fight when they do return. Gautier Paulin and Max Nagl have already won motos this year, and they are both accomplished stars, obviously. They will have a point to prove at the rest of the rounds; they will undoubtedly want to show that they would have been right in the thick of championship hunt had they stayed healthy for the duration. The only thing that these two riders are going to have on their mind is winning, which will make them tough to beat.

Both Gautier and Max are going to be trying to acquire new contracts for the following years as well (unless they have already agreed on one behind closed doors). A majority of the guys will have this on their mind, as they do every year. Some riders thrive under this pressure, as it fuels the fire inside of them. However, there are others that falter – it

creates an intriguing dynamic.

So, some surprising results may emerge. If a rider like Tommy Searle gets a holeshot, you can bet that he will go all out in an attempt to prove his worth to the various top-tier squads. Searle has not yet finished up on the MXGP overall podium, so I am sure that he feels he has to get that monkey off of his back before he can make a serious run for the title in 2015.

Obviously, Tommy has the talent; we all know that. It just has not come together for him on the 450F yet, but it will, I’m sure. He is getting stronger each week, following his wrist injury at the start of the season. I honestly would not be too surprised to see him battling up front for a win by the end of the season – that is where he expects to be!

We all want to believe that someone will step up and challenge Jeffrey Herlings, right? Well, we aren’t going to lie to you, it probably will not happen! The reigning champion has proven to be superior on all surfaces, and he is only getting stronger each week. If he can keep it on two wheels, there is no reason to think that he won’t claim the championship. In fact, he may end up clinching his third successive title before the guys leave Europe for the final two flyaway rounds.

Those two rounds will be some of the most interesting this year, specifically the Mexican finale, as the first round there in 2012 was pretty disastrous. However, the GP of Mexico is going to be held at a new track, and the under the watchful eye of a new promoter as well; it already looks promising. If Herlings already has the title locked up before the seventeenth round, he may choose to do something special for the fans there, too.

Jeffrey seems quite keen to break records, which is why he is entertaining the idea of staying on a 250F for another year. With

many rounds left to run, he will undoubtedly add to his win total and further establish himself as the strongest MX2 rider since the inception of the class in 2004. When a rider is as dominant as he is, it is sometimes hard for them to get motivated each week. However, it does not look like the Dutchman will have that trouble.

Arnaud Tonus appears to be the only rider that could potentially steal a victory from Jeffrey, although he is going to need some luck on his side. For this reason, the CLS Kawasaki rider is the guy to watch in the eyes of most. Tonus has established himself as the second best rider in the MX2 class; he is alone in the spot most weeks. This is also his final season on the 250F in the FIM Motocross World Championship; he presumably has some personal goals that he would like to fulfill.

Of course, this also applies to a handful of the MX2 frontrunners, as there are a whole host of top guys that are going to be bumped up to the premier MXGP class in 2015, because of the age restriction rule. For instance, Romain

Febvre is also going to be pushed up, despite the fact that he is still growing as a rider. The Frenchman only has a few podium finishes to his name, so the pressure is on for the rest of the year, as he attempts to show that he can be a great big bike rider.

It is unknown how any of these riders will fare when they do make the big switch, their time in the MX2 class may be the only chance that they get to stand atop the podium. I’m certain that this has already crept into the minds of these riders, which means that a lot of pressure must be on their shoulders. Honestly, Romain has not performed as well as I expected so far this year, so a win may be a bit of a stretch for him. But he will undoubtedly continue to add to the amount of podiums he has garnered in his career.

Jordi Tixier is one of the riders that you should keep an eye on in the coming weeks – he has to prove his worth to the Red Bull KTM squad. Most presumed that Tixier was going to excel this year, and become a consistent contender for victories; it seemed that this would be the

MX2


We all want to believe that someone will step up and challenge Jeffrey Herlings, right? Well, we

aren’t going to lie to you, it probably will not happen!


Can Max Anstie win a race? That is a

question that all of the British fans have

on their mind

next step for him. Unfortunately, he has struggled at a majority of the rounds this year, as he has only jumped onto the podium on a few occasions, so there’s a lot on the line for him. At the moment Jordi is struggling with his confidence, so he needs to get that straightened out before he can move forward.

Jose Butron is in a similar position, as he too has to overcome a lack of self-belief in order to deliver the type of finishes that he is capable of. Jose has everything that a rider could want, as he has some factory parts on his machine. However, this comes with added pressure and, like Tixier, he is struggling to deal with this. This is something that a lot of the guys are trying to overcome; motocross is a very mental sport.

Valentin Guillod and Tim Gajser are two riders that will be a lot stronger when the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship concludes, as they are both making strides forward at each round. Will either rider win a moto this year? I doubt it. But, they are the stars of the future, so I advise you to keep an

eye on them, as they will undoubtedly be contenders next year. It is clear that they have the necessary speed, so they will continue to upstage the established stars.

Can Max Anstie win a race? That is a question that all of the British fans have on their mind, as he seemingly has the potential. After starting the year with some fiery performances, his results tailed off, so it is unknown what trend he will follow in the coming weeks. With a bit of luck on his side, he could become a podium regular and maybe steal a moto win towards the end of the year. But he needs to try and get his season back on-track first, which will be difficult, as he has to rebound from a finger injury. I can definitely see him on the box again in the near future.

There is still a lot of racing left in the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship, fortunately, as many riders have unfinished business, which will make for some intriguing stories.



ONE INDUSTRIES GAMMA BLOCK GEAR

Honestly, I have always considered One Industries one of the most stylish brands out there, and I am certain that I am not alone. In fact, I have purchased sets of their gear in the past for this reason. The design of a product is the first thing that everyone is drawn to, after all. It was this part of the kit that I analysed first too. I personally prefer bold, solid colours, and the Gamma Block gear delivered in this area. However, there are also other sets of Gamma gear that have a busier design, so there is something for everyone.

In the information about the product, One Industries have outlined that this gear is lighter. When I first picked up a set, I noticed this immediately, surprisingly. I immediately

grabbed some other gear that I had lying around, so that I could compare, and it was still noticeably lighter! I was very impressed with this aspect. There are obviously a couple of benefits that come with this too, as I was more comfortable when riding in the kit, which is advantageous.

There are a few different vents on the gear, also (more than you would typically find), which adds to the comfort, especially when riding on a hot day. It’s additions like this that can go a long way, and make a big difference. There was also plenty of room for me to wear my body armour under the shirt, and also fit knee braces in the pants. I felt like there was more room around the knee, which was appreciated. I’ve found that with some other gear my legs have been quite restricted,

but this was not the case with the Gamma gear, fortunately.

Speaking of the knees, there is a noticeable amount of padding in that area. I compared this to an older set of gear (from a different brand), and the difference is unbelievable. You tend to use your knees a lot in our sport, and the extra padding will ensure that this gear is going to last a little longer, and be able to cope with the wear and tear.

Since I first started riding, I have always struggled with my gloves. It is something that has always irritated me, as they will come undone, or feel loose. However, the One Industries gloves are some of the best that I have come across. They fit perfectly, and they are light, like the rest of the gear. I have tried


to think of a negative point, but I honestly can’t.

ONE INDUSTRIES GAMMA CAMBER HELMET

I did some research on the Gamma Camber helmet, and I found out that MIPS technology is incorporated in it, which ensures that a helmet provides much better protection than any other product on the market, so there is no reason to doubt the quality. The points that I made in regard to the design of the gear apply here, also. If I were to point out a minor thing that I would like to change, it is that I want to make the peak slightly higher.

The size seemed to be a little smaller than the other helmets that I have had, which is not a huge problem. But, you may want to

consider this when you make your order. Overall, the helmet fits well, and sits nicely with a neck brace, so comfort really is not an issue. It seems that One Industries put a lot of thought into ventilation when designing their products; this is another key feature of the Gamma Camber helmet. There is ‘increased cooling from flow-through ventilation’, which is obviously crucial when dealing with sweat, and also safety.

SPY KLUTCH GOGGLE:

The first thing that caught my eye about the Spy Klutch goggle is the service provided to the customer. When I cracked the box open, I was pleasantly surprised to find a nose guard and an extra lens in there. You certainly don’t get those extras with most other brands - it was a nice touch. The two lenses are anti-fog and

scratch resistant too, so the product is top of the line.

The goggles fit comfortably around the One Industries helmet, and do not feel too strained. They also don’t put too much pressure on your face, as the foam is relatively light. This (and the two vents that are placed on the bottom of the frame) helps to combat sweat, and keep the lens clear. Spy have also put a silicone-ribbed strap in place, which ensures that it doesn’t slip at any point. I found that this worked perfectly; they did not move at all. Overall, the Spy Klutch goggle certainly does everything that it needs to, and ticks every box.


Each year, everyone likes to shop around for a set of the newest gear. Although some will deny it, just look around at your local practice track and you will see that this sentiment is true. Fortunately, One Industries hooked us up with a set of their new Gamma gear and a Gamma Camber helmet. What did we make of the products? Well, allow us to inform you.

MX VICE PRODUCT TEST


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Unsurprisingly, Jeffrey Herlings will stay on a Red Bull KTM in the MX2 class

next year. The Dutchman will be looking to break even more

records on his 250F.


The battle for the runner-up spot in the MX2 class is heating up, as Arnaud Tonus [200] has a shoulder injury, which means he has dropped back into the clutches of Romain Febvre [461]

and Jordi Tixier.


Joel Roelants sustained some very serious injuries at Maggiora; it is currently unknown whether he

will make a full recovery. The motocross community has everything crossed for him, and wishes him the

best.


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Mx Vice Magazine Issue 4

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Transcript of Mx Vice Magazine Issue 4