Maxxis British Motocross Championship - Round 1

Sunday 16th March 2003

The "Canada Heights this weekend (British Champs)" Thread on the MXTrax / Adrenalin Trip message board

Saturday Photos are here

There is a Preview Article in this weeks TMX News

Working Party Dates are here

The Work Being Carried Out can be seen here

The Track Alterations are here

Shopping Centre Displays are here

Weather: 5 day BBC Weather forecast for Swanley (i.e. Canada Heights)

Info - Part 1

On Sunday March 16 thousands of Motocross fans will flock to the spectacular Canada Heights off road race circuit in Button Street, Swanley where the Sidcup and District M C C hosts the first round of the Maxxis British Motocross Championships. It's here that all of the British based Grand Prix teams will line up to do battle for both the 125cc and Open class titles.

As in previous years both classes will have two races of 25 minutes plus two laps followed by the race of the day the Maxxis Cup race. This is where the top 20 from each class of the day will race head to head, giving you the chance to see the top 40 riders battling at the same time over the Canada Heights demanding circuit

In both classes the rider line up is awesome. The official Grand Prix World Championship Honda team is "CAS Honda". Their four riders in the open class are the New Zealander and number two in the world Josh Coppins riding a two stroke, also two stroke mounted is home hero and Irelands Gordon "Crockstar" Crockard. Returning from injury is Japanese star Yoshi Atsuta with the all action Jussi Vehvilainen both are on four stroke machines, with Jussi on a special 490cc bike, just watch this spectacular man from Finland go.

South African Paul Cooper intends to be in front defending his 2002 British Championship crown on his Trevor Avery Socal sponsored Honda. The M J Church team of Marco Kohvilainen from Finland and Carl Nunn are the official Kawasaki Team. Colin Reed's RJ W team will again have Honda bikes for their Grand Prix star James Noble and Scottish rider Stuart Flockhart. Super Welshman Glen Phillips has moved over to the Emberson Yamaha team with the return to the UK of his team mate, Grand Prix runner, Christian Burnham. Pushing them all the way will be local riders headed by South Eastern Champion David Williams from Upper Norwood, Ben Taylor from Purley and David Willet from Folkestone, whilst Dartford's Martin Cuddy definitely intends to qualify this year.

The 125cc class has No 1 plate Stephen "Swordy" Sword from Scotland on his Albion KTM with Tom Church and the much improved Matt Winstanley in their Orange outfits looking for glory. Another Scott and also last years front runner Billy McKenzie is out for revenge as he takes his fight to the KTM riders on his ultra quick Yamaha UK machine, he is again joined by the Portsmouth teenager with a great future Jason Dougan. In particular other riders to look out for are the Under 21 Champion Wayne Smith on his Y Bike sponsored KTM and local brothers Danny and Jody Smythe on their four stroke Yamaha's.

If you haven't been to a Maxxis Championship event then get along to the opener at Canada Heights on March 16 you're in for a day of some of the best motocross action anywhere in the world.

Entry to Canada heights is well sign posted, just of the M20/25 intersection at Swanley. Tickets are £15 per person, children under 14 free but only if accompanied by a paying adult and OAP's half price.

Gates will be open in time for practice at 9:15 am followed by qualifying while the first race starts at 12:15 pm

For the disabled there is special near track side parking, but you need to arrange this in advance by calling the secretary of the meeting Marge Clarke, on 01634 201268

Info - Part 2

Safe Passage for Riders and Spectators

The go - ahead Sidcup Club who are currently promoting the first round of the Maxxis British Championships on Sunday 16 have made more improvements and changes to their track at Canada Heights. In readiness for the Maxxis Championship ACU motocross committee man Frank Dixon inspected the track with clerk of the course Alan Clarke and gave it his seal of approval. The changes should make better and safer racing and be welcomed by both riders and spectators. Leading club riders who have been privy to the changes have said, great, much safer for the average rider, why didn't we do it before.

Adverse weather conditions through the autumn and winter months has caused severe damage to the access road into Canada Heights. Last week the club agreed terms with a contractor to lay a new road from the entrance gate up to the paddock. The work is planned for completion before the Maxxis Championship and it is hoped that it will aid easy access to parking for both riders and spectators alike.

There is a Preview Article in the News Shopper

Have a wheelie good time

ON Sunday week, thousands of motorsport fans will flock to the spectacular Canada Heights off-road racetrack, in Button Street, Swanley, close to the M25/A20 intersection, when the Sidcup and District Motorcycle Club hosts the first round of this season's Maxxis British Motocross Championships.

All the British-based Grand Prix teams will line up to contest both 125cc and open-class events against a galaxy of foreign stars.

As in previous years, both classes will have two races lasting 25 minutes plus two laps, followed by the race of the day the Maxxis Cup. This is when the top 20 from each class on the day will race head-to-head, giving you the chance to see the top 40 riders racing at the same time over the demanding Canada Heights course.

In both classes, the rider line-up is awesome. The official Grand Prix World Championship Honda team is CAS Honda.

Their four riders in the open class are New Zealander and world No.2 Josh Coppins, riding a two-stroke, as will be Ireland's Gordon "Crockstar" Crockard, while returning from injury is Japanese star Yoshi Atsuta, with Finland's all-action man Jussi Vehvilainen on a special 490cc bike both riding four-stroke machines.

South African Paul Cooper intends to be in front defending his 2002 British Championship crown on his Trevor Avery-sponsored Socal Honda.

The MJ Church team of Marco Kohvilainen, from Finland, and Carl Nunn form the official Kawasaki team, while Colin Reed's RJ W team will again have Honda bikes for Grand Prix star James Noble and Scottish rider Stuart Flockhart.

Young Welsh superstar Glen Phillips has moved to the Emberson team and will be riding a four-stroke Yamaha, while Grand Prix racer Christian Burnham has returned to the UK and will be keen to take pole position when he rides for the Y Bike team on the big 520cc KTM machine.

Pushing them all the way will be local Sidcup Club riders, headed by South Eastern Champion David Williams from Upper Norwood, Ben Taylor from Purley and Folkestone-based David Willett.

The 125cc class will see the No.1 plate of Stephen "Swordy" Sword from Scotland on his Albion KTM, with Tom Church and the much-improved Matt Winstanley in their orange outfits all looking for glory.

Last year's front-runner was Scotsman Billy McKenzie, who will be out to last the full distance when he takes his challenge to the KTM riders on his ultra-quick Yamaha UK machine. Again he will be joined by his team-mate, the Portsmouth teenager with a great future, Jason Dougan.

Other riders to look out for, in particular, are under-21 champ-ion Wayne Smith, who will be aboard his Y Bike-sponsored KTM, plus local brothers Danny and Jody Smythe on their four-stroke Yamahas.

Tickets are £15 per person, children under-14 if accompanied by a paying adult are admitted free, with OAPs at half-price.

Gates will be open in time for practice at 9.15am, followed by qualifying, with the first race starting at 12.15pm.

There is a Preview Article on MXLarge.com

British Title Chase To Begin

By Jim Thompson

The prestigious British Motocross Championships get going this weekend at Canada Heights with the first of nine rounds. Before defending champs Stephen Sword and Paul Cooper take their No. 1 plates to the familiar venue in the south-east, mxlarge went after an update from both riders and organising Sidcup and District Motorcycle Club.

The track

Canada Heights has received improvements to both track and infrastructure just in time for the traditional series opener. The main access road has been tarmaced, some areas now provide hard standing and multiple access ways have been beefed up with compacted roadstone.

Main changes to the track´s start straight consist of moving the markers from the left inward and moving the first bend 8 meters to the right. This will have the effect of making gate position fairer along the grid. Instead of bearing left in turn one and dropping down the old finish hill, riders will go into a revised right and drop down the steps.

More changes along the very fast back straight will lead to a more technical track. A revised landing slope and infill after the tabletop reflect latest Motocross committee regulations. All measures make sure things are safer, more demanding, while offering closer racing to the paying public.

Swordy

This time last year the Scot was in the middle between two European bikes. Sword ended at Team Albion KTM, finished tenth in the GPs and - after a heart break decider for Billy MacKenzie - earned his first British title.

For 2003 he has to defend his 125 title against an eager MacKenzie, Jeff Dement, Wayne Smith, Phillip McCullough and Tom Church. Sword, who spent a couple of weeks in Southern California for preparation, is satisfied with where he´s at.

"I plan to start the season the way I finished the last - on a very positive note," he said. "I will concentrate on getting a good start not only in Sunday´s races, but for the season as a whole."

Sword is not bothered by lacking a win so far: "Honestly, I am untroubled by the previous two results from Matchams and Hawkstone. Getting the results I have is not the end of the world. It´s been a good start compared to the last two or three seasons - people just don't realise."

A confident Sword goes into his second season on a KTM, meanwhile fellow racer Paul Cooper is back where he was before in his career: Riding a private Honda.

Cooperman

A surprise to many pit pundits, Cooper favours the 250 two-stroke over the 450 thumper. The South African-native explains the reason.

"Yep, many people will be quite surprised. It was not an easy decision for us, especially because my team is very open-minded and not being guided in any direction by other sponsors. It is a decision we have made with a view to getting the best results possible. Only time will tell, but we think it is the right decision!"

Cooper´s Multitek Honda team, directed by Trevor Avery, will face a lot of Honda opposition in the Nationals. There´s the official GP Team CAS with Gordon Crockard, Jussi Vehvilainen, Yoshi Atsuta (and later Josh Coppins), as well as Team RWJ Honda with James Noble and Stuart Flockhart.

Chambers KTM sends Mark Hucklebridge, Craig Pratley and Jonathan Pettit, M J Church Kawasaki offers Carl Nunn and Marko Kovalainen. Glenn Phillips and Mark Jones are representing Yamaha on different squads.

Trying to keep his domestic #1 plate is an obvious mission for Cooperman. But what´s possible in the world championships?

"In the GP's I want to be a regular visitor to the podium," Cooper says.

"With the injury-free off-season preparation I have had, the team and my mechanic Carl behind me, it is a very realistic goal. It should be very satisfying for everyone on the team to achieve podiums."

And what about the weekend?

"Actually, I have always liked Canada Heights. Sometimes its wet and that can spoil it, but generally a very good meeting. Good crowd support, too!"

Here are Sword, Cooper and a bunch of fast rivals ready for the series kick-off. The club has done its job, weather should be fine, what else could the British Motocross community be looking for?

The Entry List as on Britmx.com

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More Information

For more information on the whole British motocross championship series go to MXGB.info