The Sand Master, 2024 British MX Champ Jeffrey Herlings, returns to the Preston Docks circuit this Easter Sunday as a wildcard at Round 2 of the 2026 Motul ACU British Motocross Championship, which is set to be another cracking day of UK motocross for fans to sink their teeth into.
Images courtesy of MXGB – Insight Media
Although undoubtedly the favourite, having already won a GP this year, the Honda HRC Petronas rider will find the MX1 class a different beast to last year, with Dirt Store Triumphs Ben Watson and Gabriel SS24 KTM’s Oriol Oliver added into the mix alongside 2025 Champ Conrad Mewse on his Crendon Tru7 Honda.
At round one at Hawkstone Park, it was Watson who prevailed over Oliver, with Mewse frustrated in third, but you get the feeling after blowing off the cobwebs in the British Masters last weekend that Conrad will be a different proposition this weekend. DRT Kawasaki’s Taylor Hammal impressed with fourth overall, and you get the notion that a podium is just around the corner for the popular southern-based rider. Apico Honda and Josh Gilbert had a nightmare of a first round in Shropshire, and he was another to throw down some good motos in the Masters at the weekend and will be eyeing a trip to the podium.
It has been a tough start to 2026 for Chambers Racing’s Adam Sterry, who will have to bounce back from some gruelling MXGP’s and a fifth at Hawkstone with a big result at Preston Docks. Others to watch out for will be Lexa MX’s Tristan Purdon, Crendon Tru7 Honda’s Jamie Carpenter, Privateers Brad Todd and Bobby Bruce, Absolute MX KTM’s Ben Edwards, veteran Martin Barr, Rookie Freddie Bartlett, Apico Honda’s Tom Grimshaw, Canadian Tanner Ward, Bayliss Utting, Chambers Racing’s Dan Thornhill and the list goes on.
What can you say about MX2 after the drama that unfolded at Hawkstone? There could be any one of twelve riders who could make the podium this weekend at Preston Docks, with Round 1 winner Gyan Doensen of the Gabriel SS24 KTM certainly looking to be one of them. SC Sporthomes Husqvarna’s Charlie Heyman pitched in with two solid motos at Round 1 and was on the box at this venue last year, so will be highly favoured to be on the podium again this weekend. Last year’s champ Tommy Searle and his Dirt Store Triumph missed this round in 2025, but after a tough slog at the opener, you can expect him to be back at the sharp end on Sunday. SevenSeven2 Ride Kawasaki’s Joel Rizzi went 5-5 for 3rd overall last time out, but he was expecting more from himself, so don’t count him out of a big result on Sunday.
READ MORE: BRITISH MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS
Jamie Keith stunned everyone at Hawkstone by taking his Rookie MX2 ride win in Shropshire, and he admits he knows Preston Docks better than anyone, so can he back up his round one speed with a big result this weekend? ASA United GasGas’s Ben Mustoe had a tough opening moto last time out, but exonerated that with a superb second in moto 2, and if he makes the start, he will be very difficult to catch. Chambers Racing’s Ollie Colmer has scored points in every MX2 World Championship moto he has ridden in this year and was second in moto 1 at Hawkstone, so he certainly has the pace to be a front-runner and podium contender at Preston Docks. Phoenix Tools Fantic Racings Josh Vail, impressed at the opener and also had some fantastic rides at the British Masters at Fatcat last weekend. Could he make it onto the podium this weekend?
This season has been anything but straightforward for Joe Brookes, but his strong 12th in the second EMX250 moto in Switzerland shows he has the minerals to be at the front in the MXGB competition. A little bit of luck wouldn’t go amiss for the young Brit.
Another rider hoping for a change in fortunes is Dirt Store Triumph’s Billy Askew, who failed to qualify for the main EMX250 races in Switzerland. He will be going all out to right that wrong this weekend, as he also currently has no points on the board in the British Championship, and he will certainly class himself as a title runner, so this is the weekend he needs to make it happen.
Crendon Tru7 Honda’s Charlie Richmond had the best overall result of any of the MX2 Rookies at round 1 with sixth, and he is only going to get better, so watch out for him on Sunday. Also, 2 Stroke racer John Adamson of the Phoenix Tools Fantic Racing team is always in the mix and with 7th in Shropshire, don’t count him out for a podium push in Preston. Another rider to watch out for could be the Absolute MX KTM rider Davy Pootjes, who hasn’t quite shown his potential yet in the championship, but you get the feeling a big result is just around the corner for him. Calum Mitchell on his Worx Total Triumph had a bruiser of a Hawkstone weekend, but we know all too well that he has it in his locker to snatch wins and podiums, too.
The 125cc class at Hawkstone Park saw a masterclass from JK Yamaha’s Drew Stock going 1-1 with a superb ride. He will be looking to replicate that feat at Preston Docks, but rumours have emerged about an injury ahead of the Swiss GP. He still rode well in the EMX125 class there to bag some points in the second moto. Chambers Racing’s Hayden Statt was also in the points in Switzerland, finishing a superb 7th in Race 1, so these two riders will be strong favourites for 125 glory at Preston Docks.
At Hawkstone, 13-year-old S Briggs Commercials rider Harley Marzcak was super impressive, and if he rides like that again, the podium awaits. He will have to fend off the likes of Alfie Geddes-Green who was second first time in Shropshire, Joel Winstanley Dawson who was on the box at the opener, the fast starting Arthur Moore on the TM machine, Archie Stapely, Jenson Severn, Lucas Moncrief, Leo Wilson and a whole host of other super fast young guns who will be keen to make their mark on the series this Easter.
Expect Preston Docks to be packed to the rafters this weekend, so make sure you are part of it all and get your tickets to watch Herlings V the Brits in MX1, who will emerge in MX2, and the talented coming through in the 125’s.
The Venue
Preston Docks MX
Preston
PR2 2HW
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased Online >>HERE<< or on the gate
Prices are:
Adults £25
Children 5-15 £5
Family ticket (2 adults & 2 Children) £60
Spectator Camping Ticket for Saturday evening £20
Entry Lists
Check out the Entry Lists >>HERE<<
Live Streaming
The event is to be streamed via the MXGB TV channel on YouTube and on FIM TV
Timetable
The timetable is yet to be released. This may be because the MXGB are waiting to see if they will need qualification and LCQ’s based on late entries.
