2024 AMCA British MX Championship R3 at Warmingham Lane

 Supported by Holab Concepts and Joov Sports Products, the 2024 AMCA British Motocross Championship chase visited Cheshire recently. Round 3 was hosted by the Middlewich MXC who had prepared the Warmingham Lane circuit to perfection and with the weather even playing ball it helped ensure two full days of exciting action.

Finding a new lease of racing life, Ray Rowson was again on the Open Class podium in 2^nd overall at Warmingham behind Wildcard winner Jayden Ashwell. With Will Hughes also again in the frame and taking 3^rd it means that he is just 23 points behind Ray as those two lads set the pace at the top of the standings. Knowing that Will is chasing hard, Ray has little room for error and certainly started the Warmingham weekend in style by winning the opener as Ashwell came through from an early 11^th to snatch 2^nd. In all of the remaining clashes Ashwell took the wins but it was far from comfortable as on each occasion he had to pass the fast-starting Will Hughes. Also right in the Open class mix were Scooter Webster, Mark Roberts and Curtis Griffiths.

Over in MX2, Liam Gale is the new series leader but his advantage is just a very tight 4 points. On his tail is a real tiger in the form of McKenzie Marshall and at Warmingham he was to be the overall winner ahead of Gale and Wildcard Joel Fisher. Really mixing it with the big Open class lads in a combined contest, McKenzie scored a superb 3/3/5/2. Gale though on his 250cc smoker was also getting stuck in with a great 4^th in moto three being his highest placing. Liam and McKenzie are already breaking clear in the title race and this certainly looks like a battle that will rage right down to the wire!

In the joint 125cc/125cc Youth class everything was going to plan for the main series leader Jimmy Margetson until an annoying last moto blip. Despite briefly losing his lead in moto one to the hard charging Charlie Palmer, Jimmy regained control to make it win number one for the weekend. In moto’s two and three it was pretty much plain sailing for Jimmy, scorching to gate to flag victories before a final moto DNF. In that one he led early on before slipping down to 13^th and disappearing from proceedings. With Jimmy out it was rapid Palmer taking the win from Luke Newman, Linc Hasted and Tom Goodfellow. In the Youth 125c class, Goodfellow is now leading the series after a super performance at Warmingham. His best ride without doubt being a superb 2^nd place in moto three. Also having a good weekend in the Youth class were Hasted, Callen Jai Griffiths, Sebby Moore, Travis James and Jack Evans. For previous series leader Ollie Jewitt, it was 7^th overall and he now trails Goodfellow by 22 points.

After previously being undefeated in the BWMA Women’s Championship, series leader Grace Richards was to suffer two defeats at Warmingham. Grace did though in her usual smooth, untroubled style win moto one from start to finish as Libby Chatburn, Rosie Rowett, Tanisha Thomas, Leah Rees-Evans and Nadiya Jones chased her home. Getting quickly dialled into the circuit, Rowett a World Championship Enduro star then showed her pure class to not only lead moto two all the way but also inflict defeat number one on Richards. Showing her character, Grace bounced back immediately by being first past the chequered flag in moto three as the very consistent Chatburn took 2^nd. Then proving just why she is a serious Championship contender; Chatburn was to be victorious in the last moto of the weekend inflicting defeat number two of the weekend on Richards as Rees-Evans got home in 3rd. It certainly proved to be an interesting round 3 for Leah, forced to switch onto a 125cc bike after her trusty 85cc mount stopped. On the BWMA podium it was Grace, Libby and Tanisha with Leah, Rheanna Morgan-Rogers and Hollie Roberts next up.

In the combined BW85cc/SW85cc and BWMA Girls 85cc contest a total of 31 riders came under starters orders. Although Finn Fitzgerald, Daniel Sheppard and Oakley Skinner took turns to briefly lead, in all four motos Wildcard Christopher Brindley was to storm to the victories in style. Having a great season though, BW85cc series leader Ryan Jackson went 3/2/2/3 to maintain his advantage at the top of the series. The gap though is just 24 points as Sean Simout is keeping Ryan honest with Skinner also right in the mix and just a further 2 points in arrears. Proving just why they are the leading contenders in the SW85cc series, Mason Brown, Alfie Pincher and Jimmy Whiston were again podium fillers at Warmingham. In the series, Pincher is 26 points clear of Brown. The solitary BWMA 85cc Girl competing in the 85cc class was Lexi Emery and as per normal she really mixed it up with the lads producing a scorecard of 10/14/20/13, great results!

Marching relentlessly on to earning himself a brand-new Honda CRF250R, Matt Wright won both Honda Cup motos at Warmingham. He now boasts a nice 41-point advantage in the Championship table with Ricky Ryder 2^nd, Caitlin Newman 3^rd and Mark Allen 4^th.

And so, to the Vets with Matt Ryder, Simon Lane and James Lane (2) taking the moto wins. In the first of four interesting clashes, Ryder led the opener all the way before Simon Lane was first past the post in moto two after passing both Brian Staples and Ryder. David Wilcox then Rich Meakin where the Vets moto three pacesetters before young James Lane came through to take the honours. In a Lane Brothers head-to-head duel, Simon controlled the last race of the weekend for 7 laps only for James to then snatch victory. In the Vets O40’S, James Lane is top of the pile from Adam Wilkinson and Meakin. Meanwhile over in the Vets O50’s, Ryder is still the leader but must now be seriously feeling the heat with Simon Lane closing in and just 2 points in arrears!

Words and Images by Mike Wood

The results of the event are below.