Reigning Scottish MX1 Motocross Champion Brad Todd heads into the 2025 Scottish Motocross Championship opener at Tain this weekend (8th & 9th March), determined to do it for the underdogs as he takes on another season as one of the sport’s most hardworking and successful privateers.
Last season, he took the Scottish title by just five points over the SC Sporthomes Husqvarna rider Tristan Purdon, who he will be doing battle with again in 2025, and reflecting on the win, he said, “It meant quite a lot as I had never won a championship since I became a professional rider. It was nice as a lot of my sponsors were from Scotland, so it was nice I could do it in front of them and for them. And especially on my own, so it was good.”
When Brad talks about doing it on his own, he means it. Brad doesn’t race for a team, and although he has a fantastic amount of support from a loyal band of sponsors, he is essentially his own Boss, Mechanic, and driver…
READ MORE: SCOTTISH MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS
The popularity of the Scottish Championship has been growing, which means the likes of Crendon Tru7 Honda’s Conrad Mewse, Apico Honda’s Martin Barr, Phoenix Tools Fantic Racings Carlton Husband and SC Sporthomes Husqvarna riders Tristan Purdon and Charlie Putnam will be lining up, all of which have team and manufacturer backing.
On the rise of the series, Brad said, “Johnny (Douglas Hamilton) has done a good job in promoting it and put a lot of prize money in to attract the riders, which is the right thing to do, as if you get the riders you get the spectators. He has obviously done a very good job there.”
In addition to the prize money, the Scottish tracks are some of the finest in the World. If you combine that with Johnny being one of the best track builders in the World, you have all the ingredients for great racing and a great championship.
“The tracks have always been extremely good, but with Johnny being Johnny, he has just made them 10 times better.” continued Brad.
So what about the Tain circuit and being the first big championship round in the UK of the year?
“It’s the toughest one and the first one of the year, so it gets it out of the way, and it certainly blows the cobwebs off as well. It’s all about fitness. You will know where your fitness is after this one. It doesn’t matter how fit you are, even if you are a full-time GP rider, if you do 30 minutes at this track, you would be nakered, whether you are Jett Lawrence or whoever you would be shattered. It’s a brutal one. When I compare it with Lommel, the thing with Lommel you get a massive long start straight a first corner which is graded where you can breathe, where as at Tain there is absolutely no break, so with regards to bike set up, you can set yourself up perfect for there but it won’t be for anything else you will race for the year. Purely for me, it’s the fitness side of things. If you feel like you can do 90percent of the race and you are not hanging out your arse you are in a good spot.”
Other contenders in the 450 class going after Brad’s title are Ben Edwards, who was fourth in 2024, Jayden Ashwell, Jason Meara, Lewis Hall, the evergreen Tony Craig, and Ross Rutherford. But how does Brad feel about defending his title, and is he feeling the pressure of being the number one?
“I don’t feel pressured. I feel pretty good about it all. It’s nice to be a champion at something. I know personally I will be up there or thereabouts. If you had asked me this a few years ago and I had done it, I would have been a lot more under pressure, but I feel older and wiser, and I can’t change the way I think because I have won something. You have to go out there and enjoy it at the end of the day.
“The cool thing is, I am racing against people who are getting a lot more support than what I am, so if I can go out there and win again and do it on my own, it’s brilliant because all of my sponsors who are doing it are just trying to help me live a dream. I haven’t got the mechanics and the backing, so it’s cool to do it like that. To win again would be amazing for that reason.”
In addition to the Pro MX1 class, there is also the Pro MX2 class, where SC Sporthomes Husqvarna young gun Charlie Heyman will be looking to retain the title he gained in fine style in 2024. His competition will come from last year’s second and third-place riders Glenn McCormick and Ryan Thomson. Kyle McNicol is certainly one to watch, as is two-time European Women’s Champion Lucy Barker.
Other riders not to be counted out are Max Harris, Lennox Dickinson, Jack Meara, Jordan Mccaw, Richard McKeown, Syd Putnam, David Plank, Lee Cameron, and Ryan Waggott.
As well as the Pro classes, the Youth, Vets, and other Adult support classes will be racing and looking to get their championships underway with the best possible start in what will be a rammed few days of racing.
The Track
Tain Motocross Track
IV19 1PE
Spectating
Spectators are welcome, and they can pay at the gate for a weekend wristband band which is £10.
Catering and Toilets are on site.
Schedule
Images courtesy of Scottish Motocross Championship
