Maxxis British Motocross Championship - Round 1

Sunday 13th March 2005

Pre Event Info

Info

As usual a wide variety of hot and cold food and drink will be available, as will extensive parking facilities, toilets, children's entertainment, and trade stands - as well as excellent all round viewing.

Directions to Canada Heights

Marge Clarke is secretary of the meeting and anyone with any quires should contact her

Pre Event Info

After the Hawkstone Park International CAS Honda's Josh Coppins won't be riding (injured shoulder) and will be replaced by a Finnish rider Hannu Poikela.

Gordon Crockard (Bike It Yamaha) has injured his foot but will still ride.

There is also a new series website MXGB.info.

You can check out the BBC Weather for a local forecast. You'll be pleased to know that the club has new parking arrangements in place to facilitate an easy exit in the eventuality of adverse weather.

Entry List

Entry list as on 04/03/2005 here (27kb - PDF)

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Wildcards

The Sidcup & DMCC are pleased to announce that Stephen Sword has agreed to take up a Wild Card entry in the MX2 class at their Maxxis British Moto Cross Championship Meeting at Canada Heights on March 13th. Stephen will be accompanied by his GP mechanic Sean Gaugain and will be working out of the MJ Church Kawasaki Team's set up.

Mark Eastwood (Wiseco Honda) will also be a Wild Card entry at the meeting in the MX1 class. Mark has not raced in England recently and this will be a welcome return for his British fans. He has been contesting the MX3 GP's from his Spanish base and last year spent the season in the States.

Previews

Preview Article 7

By Kevin Impey News Shopper

Ready for a Sword fight

Organisers and fans of the Maxxis British Motocross Championship first round, which takes place at Canada Heights, in Swanley, this Sunday, have been given a massive boost by the news that British champion and international racer Stephen Sword will, after all, be in action.

Brian Edwards, press officer for Sidcup Motorcycle Club which owns the track, said: "Sword was not going to race in the domestic series this year due to his Grand Prix commitments, but has agreed to ride in the first round as a wild card entry.

"The works Kawasaki team, which supports Dutchman Jan De-Groot, considers the first round of the Maxxis British Championship to be of such significance that it has agreed to Sword's entry."

Edwards added: "Making a very welcome return after serious injury is Irishman Gordon Crockard, whose 2004 season was ruined during the first round at Canada Heights last year when he sustained a torn ligament after landing badly from a jump. He is always a front-runner and will, hopefully, fair better this year.

"The super new track is finished after many weeks of determined effort and should provide an exciting and colourful spectacle."

For those not familiar with Canada Heights racetrack, it can be reached by leaving the A20/M20 or M25 at the Swanley interchange and following the brown Brands Hatch chequered flag signs. Take the Farningham-Brands Hatch exit from the roundabout, then go straight over the next roundabout by the council yard (on the left) and take the next left into Button Street. The track is approximately one mile down on the right.

Admission has been pegged at £15 for adults and £8 OAPs, with accompanied children under-14 being allowed in free, while the usual trade stands and refreshments will be available.

Preview Article 6

By Kevin Impey News Shopper

Mark’s back to his roots

Mark Eastwood, son of Vic, the owner of the Eastwood Honda Racing shop in London Road, Swanley, will be competing in the first round of the Maxxis British Motocross Championship, being sponsored by the News Shopper, that takes place at Canada Heights next Sunday.

Eastwood junior has been living in Spain for the last four years, making occasional appearances in the World Championships, scoring excellent results in the Spanish National series, and last season contesting the ultra-competitive AMA Championship in America.

Eastwood, who was rated as one of the top riders in Britain during the late 1990s, will make his first British Championship outing for three seasons at his former local circuit and is immensely looking forward to a nostalgic reunion.

"I grew up racing at Canada Heights and I remember going there as a boy to watch greats like Graham Noyce and Dave Thorpe riding," he reflected from his base just outside Barcelona.

"I competed at the track as a schoolboy and had my first race with the seniors there when I turned 16. I have done pretty well in the Canada Heights' British Championship races in the past and have taken a second and third, but never actually won an overall event."

The motivation for the Shift clothing-backed rider's return to his self-confessed favourite circuit' is mainly due to the consultation role he has fulfiled with the Sidcup Motorcycle Club in its hefty winter overhaul of the track, which has been in use since 1938.

Eastwood added: "The club asked me to help with the changes it was making with the track, transforming the faster parts to make it more technical, digging up the terrain and asking for my ideas on the new layout.

I was impressed.

"The club has built a new reservoir and the track is softer and sandier in many places. Naturally, I was interested in racing around the altered track and to come back as a wild card seemed like a good idea.

"It will be great for me to ride in the area again. I have lots of friends and people I know in the sport. I have been a part of the running of the shop with my parents and brother for a good few years now, as well as having a great long-running sponsorship from Wiseco Racing in Swanley."

At the age of 34, Eastwood knows that he does not have a great deal of time left in the sport and is aiming to contest as many professional races as possible this season, including another jaunt to America and the AMA

In addition to a superb line-up of the finest riders in the UK, there is a good mix of foreign riders from the USA, Japan, Holland, France, South Africa and New Zealand.

Among these is defending MX1 British Champion Josh Coppins, who also finished third in the FIM MX1 World Championship last year.

Preview Article 5

From Friday 11/03/2005 TMX

Brits Can' Maxx' it at the Heights

JUST when you have finished brushing out Weston Beach sand from your shiny machines after the end of season blast down the Somerset beach, finished all the left-over Christmas turkey, got your New Year gym memberships sorted to get fit for the new season, got roasted for forgetting Valentine's Day, blessed for remembering Mother's day – you turn your back for a moment and it's March, and the new British Championship season is here already! Round one of the Maxxis British Motocross Championships takes place this Sunday, (March 13), with the, by now, traditional and extremely well attended event at Canada Heights, run by the very proficient Sidcup and District MCC.

Good news for the club and the many, many spectators that turn up year in and year out despite any inclement weather forecast, is that reigning MX2 class champion Stephen Sword will make a very rare appearance at a British round this season.

He is not contracted to contest our domestic series in 2005, as his Dutch based Motorex Jan de Groot Kawasaki squad concentrate on the Dutch championships – which Swordy is currently leading after the opening round last weekend.

However, he will not be there just to make up the numbers – he will be there to win. Even so, he will be up against some riders in the best form of their lives. Runner-up to Swordy last season Carl Nunn is one.

The Cambridgeshire man, now on a factory Champ KTM, and absolutely full of the joys of spring – becoming a father last year, and landing the factory ride after his RTT team went under, took the runner-up spot last weekend at Hawkstone Park International on a 125cc two-stroke no less, to boost his confidence and kick-start a season that could make or break him. RWJ Honda teamsters, former British 125cc class champion Mike Brown and Erik Eggens will provide stiff opposition to both Swordy and Nunny, however, Eggens is suffering from a broken finger sustained last week at Hawkstone.

There are a fair few Brits with their eyes on the main prize this season and none more so than Billy MacKenzie, back to MX2 competition after a season in MX1, although the young Scot has just returned to riding full-time after a lengthy lay-off whilst he recovered from a major shoulder re-build.

Brad Anderson, also on a 125cc two-stroke machine, will push his O'Neal Yamaha to the limit as usual, Wayne Smith is capable of a surprise, Lewis Gregory is on form, as is Jason Dougan, Tom Church, Graeme Gowland, Ben Saunders, young Cumbrian Richard Lawson had a good ride at Hawkstone finishing eighth with a host of teenage talent behind him. In the MX1 class there is doubt over the appearance of reigning class champ Josh Coppins after a spill at Hawkstone last week dislocated his right shoulder and he has been having treatment on it to make it ready for the world championship start next month. However, the 'big bike class' is just oozing talent. Coppins' CAS Honda team mate will (hopefully) make it to a British opening round for the first time in two years after injury robbed him of last season.

The Finn is flying at the moment and was only beaten by Joel Smets and Stefan Everts last week at Hawkstone - so who's your money on for Sunday?

Well, Paul Cooper is back to form with fourth place last week, new signing at Motovision Suzuki Yoshi Atsuta, British number two James Noble, EA/Dirtbike KTM's Mark Jones, Neville Bradshaw, Jordan Rose, Mark Hucklebridge, who won the two races at this event last year and Glen Phillips will be one to make their mark at the opener.

Gordon Crockard injured an ankle last week and will be wary of going through the same hell he went through at Canada Heights last year when he ripped knee ligaments which wrecked his 2004 season.

It will be a cracker of an event anyway.

Practice and qualifying sessions start at 9am with the first race away at 12.30pm with the MX2 teams.

Canada Heights is easily found from J3 of the M25/ A20 Swanley interchange and will be clearly signposted.

Admission is £15 for adults, £8 for OAPs and accompanied children under 14 years of age enter FREE.

Preview Article 4

By Britmx.com

2005 Maxxis Preview

The 2005 Maxxis British Motocross Championship kickstarts next weekend at the Canada Heights circuit near Swanley. The series is widely recognised as one of the best and most competitive national competitions in Europe and once again will draw a generous spread of top-class international stars as well as showcasing the cream of off-road British motorcycle racing talent. The 2005 Maxxis British Motocross Championship kickstarts next weekend at the Canada Heights circuit near Swanley. The series is widely recognised as one of the best and most competitive national competitions in Europe and once again will draw a generous spread of top-class international stars as well as showcasing the cream of off-road British motorcycle racing talent.

The eight round trek across the British Isles begins at the well-liked Canada Heights venue with the Sidcup and District Motorcycle club upgrading the facility over the winter period and transforming various zones of the lofty course into an entirely new prospect for both riders and spectators.

The rest of the Maxxis-backed Championship visits all four corners of Britain with trips to Northern Ireland, Hereford, Norwich, Whitby and Oxford still to come. Motocross is a thriving sport in the UK with high sales of off-road motorcycles proving the popularity of the two-wheeled discipline. Many of the riders in the MX1 and MX2 categories are Grand Prix regulars and current MX1 defending British Champion, Josh Coppins, finished third in the 2004 FIM MX1 World Championship.

The MX1 contest should see an entertaining tussle between Honda factory backed rider Coppins and former Champions Gordon Crockard (Yamaha) and Paul Cooper (Honda). The class will also see Japanese representative Yoshitaka Atsuta lining up in Motovision Suzuki colours after signing with the team during the off-season. James Noble, Stuart Flockhart and Mark Jones are also some of the names that will be fighting for podium honours in Kent next week.

The 2005 Maxxis British Championship boasts a cosmopolitan mix of riders from USA, Japan, Holland, France, South Africa and New Zealand nowhere is this more evident than in the MX2 category where America’s Mike Brown and Holland’s Erik Eggens, both new recruits of the RWJ Honda team, are expected to be among the favourites for success, not only within British shores but also the seventeen-round World Championship. South Africa’s Gareth Swanepoel is one of the bright young prospects in Grand Prix motocross although the Molson Kawasaki rider will be struggling to make the gate next week after sustaining a winter injury. MX2, traditionally a little more action-packed and frantic than its bigger brother MX1, pushes Britain’s top riders to the fore with Carl Nunn (factory KTM), Tom Church (Kawasaki), Jason Dougan (Suzuki) and Billy Mackenzie (Yamaha) all prepared to do battle for the coveted prize that was last year won by Stephen Sword. The works Kawasaki rider, who last year in Germany was The first Briton to win a Grand Prix since Jamie Dobb in Austria back in 2002, is electing to focus on the World Championship this term but has delighted his many fans by entering the Canada Heights opener as a wild-card.

A renewed television deal means that a highlights/news programme of each round will be broadcast on Sky Sports. Times and schedules will be on site when details are announced.

Sunday’s action at Canada Heights starts with practice and qualifying sessions during the morning with the first race of six (two motos for MX1 and MX2 each and two support heats) beginning at 12.30. Due to expected large crowds, early arrival is advised to save delays entering the circuit.

Canada Heights is easily found from junction 3 M25/A20 Swanley interchange and will be clearly signposted. Admission is a reasonable £15 for adults, £8 for OAP's and ACCOMPANIED children under 14 years of age enter FREE.

For more Bitirsh MX stories and disscussion forums check out the new Britmx.com

Preview Article 3

By Brian Edwards Sidcup & DMCC Press Officer

SWORD IS AT CUTTING EDGE

The Sidcup Club, organisers of the first round of the Maxxis British Motocross Championship, were overjoyed to learn that Stephen Sword had agreed to take up the offer of a "Wild Card" entry in the MX2 class at their round on Sunday March the 13th. Stephen will be accomanied by his GP mechanic Sean Gaugain and be working under the MJ Church Kawasaki Team set up.

Local hero mark Eastwood will also be a "Wild Card" entry in the MX 1 class. This will be a welcome return for Mark's fans as he has not ridden in England for some time now. He has been contesting the MX3 GP's from his base in Spain and last year spent the season in the States.

The new track is really taking shape now with a great deal of the work completed , thanks to the excellent response from helpers, however they will still be pleased to see any new faces in the build up to the event. This years round will, without doubt be sensational and be one of the greatest spectacles for some time.

Preview Article 2

From Moto Magazine

Hot off the press this morning, 3 times British MX2 Champion Stephen Sword contacted us to announce he will be competing in the first round of the Maxxis British championship at Canada Heights on March 13th. Swordy will not be competing in all of the British Championship rounds and initially it was thought that Canada Heights would clash with the Dutch domestic Championship which he will be concentrating on this year as well as the World Championship title. Its good news for everyone, the Sidcup club who are running the event, the fans and also the other racers who will be able to gauge what kind of pace they need to be running to stick with the top G.P riders. See you there.

Preview Article 1

By Brian Edwards Sidcup & DMCC Press Officer

British Championship New Track well underway

After weeks of hard work the Sidcup Club's new track at "Canada Heights" is looking more spectacular than ever with the small band of dedicated workers transforming the circuit.

To solve a surface problem it has become necessary to install a lagoon on part of the track. While this will take a great deal of time and effort the club view this as a wonderful opportunity to completely revise the circuit.

Regular visitors will imediately see some exciting changes to what is already a sensational track. In order to please both riders and fans the committee has come up with some specatcular innovations. 

The old signalling/pit area has been replaced with a much larger, safer one with dramatically improved vision for teams to signal their rider. The super new addition to the circuit in "The Orchard" has allowed a much better run-ino the work area and the crews will now stand in a safe, bike free signalling lane.

Another part of the track to come under revision is "Maddens Hole". Its approach now has some varying undulations placed on the lead up to it in an attempt to reduce the ever increasing speed. This will require some thought to get the best from it and be ridden fast.

While the complete track has been re-graded, a number of the traditional obstacles have been revised and the take off and landing faces altered. Several of the corners have now big banks on them to add to the spectacle. Sadly last year the weather was not good, however on a fine day there are few Motocross tracks anywhere that can offer so much excitement, spectacle and colour. Testament to this is the exceptional crowds that the circuit attracts. It is one of the very few venues where you can get safely so close to all the breathtaking action and watch the colourful riders roar by.

It would appear that the alterations to Championship last year by the sports governing body, the ACU was about right. On the basis of "of if it ain't broke, don't mess with it" this seasons eight round series will only feature minor technical items probably unapparent to the spectator.

Each year the standard of the Championship continues to improve and become more professional. If that is possible? The machines, while decreasing slightly in engine capacity (now a maximum of 450cc) are still incredible technical and powerful with only the top notch riders able to get the best from them. 

The transporters also continue to grow in size and colour and the riders livery becomes more dazzling. It is also a considerable challenge for the Sidcup Club to meet this ever increasing criterior. During the days racing spectators will be able to watch the very finest young athletes tackle amazing obstacles at breathtaking speeds, leaping high into the air, before racing off into the distance.

The action will be nail biting and keep you on your toes. In addition to the line-up of talented International and National riders there will be several local competitors.

In between the major races you can refresh yourself with a wide variety of hot food and drink provided by the clubs permanent caterers. Those requiring something a little stronger can visit the ever popular beer tent.

Another distraction to the racing is the wide variety of trade stands where you can purchase everything from spares to clothing. Some even have bikes for sale. In addition to this you are able to walk unhindered around the riders, meet the riders and watch the mechanics prepare the colurful machines for the onslaught.

The club is again offering its very popular Gold Card VIP corporate day out. This can be obtained for a reasonable £35 and you will be fast tracked into the circuit to a reserved parking area. Guided to the guest's marquee. Enjoy a three course silver service meal with sleeted wine and be generally pampered. You will also be invited to the rider presentation and have specific areas of viewing at the trackside circuit on the day. Enquiries to Marge Clarke 01634 201268 evenings.

You may like to consider offering this to your clients, who will be assured of an excellent days racing in the warm hospitality retreat. They will also have the chance to network with influential people members of the motorcycle fraternity, businesses, politicians and dignitaries any of which could benefit your business. Enquiries to Marge Clarke 01634 201268. e-mail marge@mclarke45.freeserve.co.uk

The Sidcup Club is extremely proud to again be supported by the popular News Shopper Paper who's involvement is considerable. They will have a significant presence at the circuit on the day.

The action will commence at 8.00am with scrutineering and technicalities. This will be followed by practice and timed training to decide start positions. The first race will be at 12 o'clock. An early arrival is recommended.

"Canada Heights" is easily found from junc 3 M25/A20 Swanley interchange where it will be clearly signposted. Admission is still £15 adults, £8 OAP's and ACCOMPANIED children under 14 free. See Directions page here.

Don't miss this amazing event.

Gold Cards

As in recent years the Sidcup Club is operating a “Gold Card” scheme for spectators at the Earlybirds British Championship Moto-Cross on Sunday 13th March.

Holders of Gold Card passes will enjoy: -

Special treatment including VIP enclosure parking and all day entry to a restricted access marquee, which will be serving tea and coffee throughout the event.

A silver service three course meal, introduction to all the teams and the opportunity to watch the racing from a private viewing platform.

Consider offering your clients a different corporate day out, you can be assured that they will see exciting racing with the benefit of their being pampered in luxury surroundings and a warm dry hospitable retreat should the weather be poor.

Additionally there is the chance to network with influential members of the motorcycle fraternity, local business’s and politicians. Any of which could benefit your business or that of your clients.

Cost is being maintained at £35 per person and must be pre booked,

To facilitate your client’s stress free day maps tickets and details of nearby accommodation can be supplied directly to your clients.

Download the form from here (33KB) and/or contact Marge Clarke

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Working Parties

Page 1 of Photos of the Sunday 06/01 Working Party by Jamie Clarke (NEW 07/02/05)

Page 2 of Photos of the Sunday 06/01 Working Party by Jamie Clarke (NEW 07/02/05)

Page 1 of Photos of the Saturday 05/01 Working Party by Jamie Clarke (NEW 07/02/05)

Page 2 of Photos of the Saturday 05/01 Working Party by Jamie Clarke (NEW 07/02/05)

Page 1 of Photos of the Saturday 29/01 Working Party by Jamie Clarke

Page 2 of Photos of the Saturday 29/01 Working Party by Jamie Clarke (NEW 07/02/05)

Page 3 of Photos of the Saturday 29/01 Working Party by Jamie Clarke (NEW 07/02/05)

The plan is that the first working party will decide important things like what changes to the track we want to carry out (which will effect the track for the rest of the year) - by being there you get a say in how Canada Heights develops.

Working parties usually start around 10am at the containers and finish around dusk (4-5pm).

The Sidcup catering crew will be on hand providing free sandwiches, warm pasties, tea, coffee, etc.

Dates:

* = This clashes with the Sidcup 60 Trial, but there will still be work that can be done)

** = If you want to help on the Big Day, please contact Marge Clarke so you have the right passes to get in.

If you want to Marshal contact Colin Bushell (Chief Marshall) on 01322 661185 (his email is currently broken I'm afraid) so you have the right passes to get in.

More Information

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