The third round of the 2025 Motul ACU British Motocross Championship commenced this past weekend at Blaxhall in front of a packed Suffolk crowd.
Words by Edward Heather – Images by Mark Lee Sing
Whilst the headlines and attention gravitate towards the winners of each class, there are a handful of riders across the three classes who pieced together a strong weekend and left feeling confident heading into the next round. Let’s take a look at who performed well at Blaxhall; riders you may not have noticed.
MX1 –
Apico Honda pilot Martin Barr put together his strongest result of 2025, taking home 29 championship points and finishing 6th overall. After a solid performance in Race 1, crossing the line in 8th place, the Irish veteran was well-positioned to secure his first top-10 finish of the season. Race 2 saw Barr get off to a great start, running with the top-five pack before settling into 6th position for nine laps. He then made a move into 5th on the following lap and held it until the chequered flag. A great weekend all around for the Apico Honda rider!
Chris Mills has delivered some impressive starts in 2025, and Blaxhall was no exception. In his second stint aboard the 450cc machine, Mills appears to have found greater comfort on the faster motorcycle. Another strong start in Race 1 saw the #27 lead the MX1 pack through the first turn and complete the opening lap in 4th place. By lap four, he had been shuffled back to his finishing position of 7th. Although he didn’t quite grab the holeshot in Race 2, another solid start placed him well inside the top 10 after the first lap. Mills ran as high as 6th before eventually crossing the line in 7th, securing a pair of 7th-place finishes for 7th overall and earning 28 championship points for his efforts.
MX2 –
Chambers Racing’s Ollie Colmer has been competing across Europe in the EMX250 division, gaining valuable experience that’s clearly helping him progress in his racing career. Although he left Blaxhall slightly disappointed with 7th overall, Colmer demonstrated to the British Motocross scene that he has what it takes to be a podium contender. One of the standout moments from his weekend was a holeshot in Race 2—particularly impressive given that starts have been a well-known Achilles’ heel for him on the European stage. That holeshot should give the #456 a confidence boost heading into future races. Unfortunately, a collision on the final lap of Race 2 (through no fault of his own) cost him the chance to secure a top-five overall. That said, keep an eye on Colmer; it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him firmly in the podium mix from here on out.
Matt Bayliss is renowned for his Arenacross prowess, which means his outdoor skills may not be as widely recognized. Typically seen racing aboard a 125cc, Bayliss lined up at Blaxhall on a SevenSeven2 Ride Kawasaki KX250F and delivered an impressive 8th overall in a deep MX2 field, his first MXGB appearance of the year! What makes his performance even more remarkable is that Bayliss isn’t ‘grinding’ week in and week out chasing MX2 glory. He races for the enjoyment of it, and his result is a genuine reflection of his raw talent on a motorcycle, rather than a relentless pursuit of outdoor racing goals. A true ‘under-the-radar’ ride from Bayliss, who is now preparing to compete in the final round of the Arenacross World Tour in Abu Dhabi next month!
125cc –
Another rider renowned for their Arenacross prowess is young British talent Harry Lee. However, Lee has also been making significant progress outdoors, and his performance at Blaxhall reflects these efforts. A steady rise from 7th to 5th in Race 1 put him in contention for a strong overall result. In Race 2, Lee ran 3rd for the opening four laps before losing just one position and settling into 4th, closely challenging the rider ahead for the remainder of the race. His 5–4 finishes earned him 34 championship points and 4th overall. This impressive performance also moved him up one spot in the championship standings, where he now holds 5th place.
