Charlie Richmond delivered one of the standout performances of the opening round of the 2026 Motul ACU British Motocross Championship, emerging as the leading MX2 rookie at a tough and rain-hit Hawkstone Park.
Making his full-time step into the adult ranks on the Crendon Tru7 Honda CRF250R, the 17-year-old showed maturity and speed beyond his experience to finish sixth overall – level on points with the riders ahead in fourth and fifth.
After qualifying sixth in his group, Richmond faced a difficult start to the opening moto as his bike spun up on the line in the wet conditions. However, he quickly recovered and was already up to 11th by the end of the first lap, chasing down riders including Joel Rizzi and defending champion Tommy Searle.
As the race wore on and conditions worsened, Richmond came into his own. While others began to fade, he maintained a consistent pace and pushed forward through the field, eventually climbing to an impressive eighth place by the chequered flag.
The second moto saw an even stronger showing. Richmond completed the opening lap down in 14th position but once again began working his way forward with a series of confident passes.
Within six laps he had climbed into sixth place, where he held firm despite late pressure from experienced rider John Adamson. His consistency across both motos secured sixth overall on the day – matching the points of Josh Vail in fifth and Ben Mustoe in fourth.
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Reflecting on his first professional race in MX2, Richmond was pleased with both his performance and progression.
“The track was tough but I really had two solid races and it’s been a fantastic debut for the Crendon Tru7 Honda team. I focused on staying consistent and of course, this is a learning year. My goal before the day was just to be in the top ten so sixth overall is a great result. I can’t wait for the rest of the season.”
Team manager Ryan Thorpe was full of praise for the youngster’s debut ride.
“Overall, it was a solid result and an impressive effort from everyone on the team.
“And Charlie was a real star today in a very, very impressive race debut for the team. He was riding against much more experienced professionals yet rode his own race. Everyone is thrilled at how well he performed. And of course I must mention all the team mechanics who had to work very hard in tough conditions today. The bikes all came through with flying colours and no problems at all, which on a circuit like this is not an easy thing to do.”
On a day where conditions tested even the most experienced riders, Richmond’s composed and consistent riding marked him out as the top MX2 rookie at Hawkstone.
With a sixth overall finish, strong race pace and plenty of confidence gained, the Crendon Tru7 Honda rider has made an immediate impact as he begins his rookie season in the pro ranks.
