Lower Drayton in Staffordshire provides the next stop in the journey en route to the eventual destination of the 2025 AMCA British Motocross Championship titles. In what has been a super, competitive series, this weekend’s event hosted by the Cannock MXC is round four of six.
Words and Images by Mike Wood
Having bagged another maximum points haul during round three at Brookthorpe, FUS Marsh Honda star James Dodd continues to be the rider they all have to beat in the race for Open class honours. Dodd now has a 39-point advantage ahead of Jayden Ashwell, with recently married Will Hughes in 3rd. In this big bike competition, Adam Wells, James Bates, Joshua Fletcher-Williams and Liam Gale are next up. Having missed the Brookthorpe event due to injury, Lane Racing Yamaha pilot Gale will be hoping to be back in action this weekend, firing on all cylinders and climbing back up the Championship standings.
It continues to be very tight at the top of MX2 with another FUS rider, Henry Williams, holding just a 10-point lead over CPMX KTM ace Josh Waterman. Pushing the current top two hard, waiting to pounce, and only a further 21 points in arrears is Luke Dean on his fast HM Racing 2T Fantic. Despite frustrating injury pains, Luke Meredith has displayed great determination to maintain a great, current 4th place in the standings with SHR Racing KTM rider Yarin Evans, who was in flying form at Brookthorpe, sitting in 5th.
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Having won 10 out of 12 motos held so far, AJP Racing Jimmy Margetson tops the 125cc title chase as he looks to defend his crown. Midwest Racing Husqvarna pilot Wyatt McGregor is in 2nd spot at present and producing ultra-consistent performances in every moto, thus keeping him well within touching distance of Margetson at the Championship summit. Luke Newman, winner of round one, sits in 3rd and is 28 points clear of Holab Concepts Fantic rider Aaron Colley, as Will Turner, Scott Corfield and Luke Phillips round off the top seven series placings.
In what has so far proved to be a topsy-turvy but highly exciting 125cc Youth Championship, Franky Jubb, Jack Evans, Oliver Bebb, Linc Hasted, and Woz Boyce have all won motos. Sitting in pole position, though, as present is Ollie Jewitt, who has been on the podium in all three rounds completed. At present, Ollie on his Brambles Construction Yamaha is 18 points clear of Boyce, with Ted Bullen, Hasted, Bebb, Oakley Skinner, Harley Piper, Ryan Jackson, Jack Bullock and Arley Marshall completing the top ten.
Although he lost his 100% record in the BW85cc class at Brookthorpe when his engine seized in moto one, Stanley Siebert still tops the title chase with a 28-point advantage over Sean Smout. At present, Siebert and Smout are starting to break clear of Finn Fitzgerald in 3rd. Having bagged podiums during the last two rounds, Aston Whitehead holds 4th from Ryan Tilley, Alfie Pincher and Jimmy Whiston. Unfortunately, Pincher had crashed out of contention during practice at Brookthorpe. Racing to three podiums so far, fast Freddie Smith tops the SW85cc title chase and holds a nice 56-point advantage over George Milnes, with Connor Johnston, Harry Sayce, and Sebastian Perrins-Talbot chasing hard.
With defending Champion and Women’s series pacesetter Grace Richards a non-starter at round three, it’s now Midwest Racing star Amber McGregor topping the standings. Although Amber was runner-up behind Wildcard winner Ria Truman at Brookthorpe, her super consistency has hauled her 47 points clear at the top with Erin Howe in 2nd. At present, Jaymee Garrood, Hannah Jones, Sophie Jones and Sasha Tollett are the next best in the 2025 Women’s title race.
Last time out at Brookthorpe was to produce plenty of great Vet’s action. In the Over 40’s, defending Champion James Lane and Jamie Dobson were certainly going for it in the race for top slot! The results saw Lane build a slender 6-point advantage over Dobson at the summit of the standings, with third-placed Sam Callow now a further 61 points in arrears. Rich Meakin and Frazer Turner are at present next in line in the Over 40’s class. Whilst it’s tight in that one, the picture in the Over 50’s appears at present a whole lot clearer with current Champion Simon Lane a lovely 72 points clear of Ste Marlow and Nicholas Pawson. There could be a change at the top, though, in the Vet’s Over 60’s as leader Brian Staples, who holds an 84-point advantage, is a likely non-starter at Lower Drayton due to other commitments. Currently sitting in 2nd place, Paul Blick will be looking to gain full advantage!
Scoring podiums at both Fatcat and Brookthorpe, Michael Harbage is at present in control of the Clubman Seniors, 75 points better off than Oliver Parry. From here onwards though it’s pretty tight with just 32 points separating Kurt Talbot in 3rd right down to Luke Bradley in 10th. You’ve also got Callum Radford in 12th and looking to make rapid progress up the standings. After missing the opening two rounds, young Radford returned with overall victory at Brookthorpe. Despite not scoring in the very first moto of the Clubman Juniors series, Leighton Price has roared back to now top the standings. Price has been in great form along with Harvey Hunt and Lewis Day, who have also bagged maximum moto points. In the title race, though, it’s Oliver Critchley in 2nd from Jack Breakwell, Day, Hunt and George Wilcox.
So, round four of the AMCA British Motocross Championship is ready to rock! There’s going to be racing on both Saturday and Sunday, and the venue can be found just off Junction 13 of the M6, ST19 5RE.
