The FIM Motocross World Championship headed to the Netherlands for Round 17 of the MXGP, with the penultimate round of the EMX250 championship on the cards and the return of WMX series.
Words by Edward Heather – Feature Image courtesy of Lucy Barker
With the Arnhem circuit located locally to Britain, there were a fair few Brits who lined up to tackle the deep Dutch sand!
MXGP:
Ben Watson had an up-and-down day in the Netherlands. His ride in Race 1 was remarkable, coming back from 19th to 10th and putting himself in a prime position for a strong overall. After finally pulling off a long-awaited strong start in Race 2, Watson was mixing it inside the top 10 before a crash on the third-to-last lap dropped him back to 18th. A tough pill to swallow for Watson, with this season being filled with bike problems and various other issues with his machine.
Adam Sterry, Josh Gilbert, and John Adamson wrapped up their final MXGP round of the season, but unfortunately couldn’t quite manage to score points. Adamson opted not to ride the second race due to a shoulder injury, choosing instead to prioritise his health for the national championships. Sterry was ever so close to a point in the final moto, holding 20th for the majority of the race before dropping to 21st.
Josh Gilbert was also close to the points in Race 2, finishing 23rd, but all three riders should hold their heads high. A 40-man gate is no joke in MXGP, and running inside and around the points shows exactly where these boys belong amongst the world’s best. They also deserve credit for giving it a go this year – it’s easy to stay in the comfort of championships where you contend for wins and podiums, but the trio took on the challenge of the European MXGP rounds. Without them, there would be little exposure for British competitors on the world stage.
EMX250:
Joe Brookes, Billy Askew, Ollie Colmer and Sonny Rooney were representing the Brits in the EMX250 class – unfortunately for Rooney, he was unable to qualify into the main races after showing strong pace in Free Practice.
Although the results don’t show it, Joe Brookes was the standout British rider in the EMX250 class. Brookes displayed immense pace from the start, qualifying 10th in just his second EMX race back after a wrist injury. Crashes in both motos derailed his chances of strong finishes, but nonetheless, it was an impressive showing in many ways. His fastest lap in Race 2 (1:52.484) was competitive with the top-10 group – a clear indication of where Brookes will be, at minimum, next season.
Chambers Racing’s Ollie Colmer should leave Arnhem with plenty of confidence. In Race 1, Colmer climbed from 28th to 15th and was applying pressure for 14th in the final two laps before a crash left his bike unable to restart. A 16th-place finish in Race 2, after a poor start, reinforces Colmer’s case for the 2025 EMX season, as he battled from deep in the pack to finish inside the points. His dedication to the program and never-quit attitude have shone through all season, giving British fans plenty to be excited about as he aims to race MX2 full-time next year.
Billy Askew had no luck in the Dutch sand – In Race 1, a pile-up meant Askew banged his shoulder. He lined up for Race 2, nursing the injury, and crossed the line in 30th.
WMX:
Lucy Barker had the ride of her young career in Arnhem – a 6-4 scorecard secured her fourth overall on the weekend and a career-best result in WMX. After two poor starts, Barker battled hard in both races to climb through the pack, with her most impressive ride coming in Race 2. It was fantastic to see a Brit mixing it up at the sharp end of the class, and with Barker’s serious talent, women’s motocross is in safe hands.
