After a summer break, the 2025 Bridgestone British Masters powered by Rock Oil blasts into action this weekend, as the series finale at Foxhill, near Swindon, looks set to be a cracker!
Words by Chris Czora – Feature Image courtesy of Phoenix Tools Fantic Racing
With none of the titles yet decided, it’s a true champions’ weekend. 2025 looks like it could be one of the closest Masters championships in recent memory, with several classes still closely fought between multiple riders, and in some cases, only a handful of points separating the front runners.
The UK motocross scene has suffered from some unfortunate late-season apathy, with effects struggling to attract viable numbers; however, it’s certainly not the case for Foxhill, with organisers reporting limited availability for wildcards and most classes with full gates.
Now firmly established on the Bridgestone Masters calendar as the season finale, the famous old GP circuit of Foxhill serves once again as a fantastic venue to end the year. The fearsome hills remain as daunting as ever, whilst the technical nature of much of the circuit requires a great amount of respect.
The weekend traditionally serves as an end of season party, and once again the Masters crew are laying on the entertainment over the weekend, with a funfair, bar and a Saturday night party, meaning riders and supporters can let their hair down and celebrate a great year’s racing.
It’s not all fun and games, though, at the sharp end of the championship, riders in every class still have a lot of work to do.
READ MORE: BRITISH MOTOCROSS NEWS
The Fix Auto UK Pro Class looks set to be an extremely close finish as Josh Spinks (Triumph West London) and series leader Chris Mills (Mills Racing Yamaha) head to the famous venue with only three points separating them!
Both riders have been closely matched during the year. Recent events saw Mills looking very strong at Hawkstone, but a fall in the second moto at Schoolhouse meant that Spinks was able to claw back the advantage.
Both riders have competed very well this year, and it’s fair to say either would make a deserved champion! The ORMS championship rules put the last race of the season as a tie-breaker, so it could make the final Pro round of 2025 the most important of the season.
Carlton Husband (Phoenix Tools Fantic) will be hoping to bounce back after a double DNF at his local Schoolhouse round, as he looks to catch up with third-place Tyla Hooley and fourth-place Travis Steels in the championship rankings.
Some wildcards to look out for include Michael Ellis and Josh Coleman, whilst fan-favourite Neville Bradshaw, who started the season in the 125cc class, returns to the Pro rankings for the season finale.
Young star Jamie Keith will be in action as he looks to start his comeback towards next year’s EMX250 championship campaign. Josh Vail has impressed this year and will also be looking for a good finish, whilst the likes of Charlie Putnam and Travis Webster will also be hoping to finish the Masters series on a strong note.
Over in Amateur MX2, things are a little more clear-cut, with possibly the first champion of 2025 to be crowned. As a former Masters champion, however, Zac Stealey knows that it’s too early to take things for granted, and despite a 66-point lead, still has work to do.
Johnathan Roderick-Evans finished just ahead of him at Schoolhouse and, having ridden brilliantly throughout the year, is still a title threat.
Last year’s MXY2 champion, Beau Brown, took the win at the North East venue and sits just three points behind Roderick-Evans, having recovered very strongly after a difficult start to the championship. He could yet be an outsider to snatch title glory in his rookie adult season.
Scott Aldridge looked unbeatable during the mid-season in Amateur MX1, but a difficult round at Schoolhouse meant that Ben Knight was able to keep the title race alive, closing the gap to 37 points.
Overall winner at Schoolhouse was Charlie Hamlet, who goes into Foxhill as a real outsider, being 80 points adrift of Aldridge, but could yet spring a surprise.
It’s been a great week for Charlie Richmond as he signs off on his 125cc career, taking the British title at Lyng.
He could round things off in style at Foxhill by adding the 125cc Masters title to his resume, but it’s been a real credit to Matt Bayliss that he’s been able to keep things close going into the decider, with just 22 points separating them.
Neither rider has finished worse than fourth; however, Richmond has won most of the races. One thing for sure is that neither rider can afford a bad start, let alone a DNF on the unforgiving Foxhill circuit.
There’s a subplot in the 125cc class, too. Third-place Maison Jones is mathematically out of the title race, but faces a close battle for third with fellow young guns Zane Stephens and Jack Leese, with just 61 points separating them.
A mid-season injury meant that Alfie Cotter’s 65cc title bid came to an end, and an absence at Schoolhouse drops him to joint third in the series alongside Harrison Chiddey, both sitting as title outsiders 116 points down.
The rider who took the best advantage of the situation was Forrest Roberts, a clean sweep of wins last time out, giving him the red plate as the riders gather at Foxhill.
Like Cotter, Roberts is celebrating a call-up to represent Team GB at the upcoming Coupe de L’Avenir in Belgium, and he will be hoping to grab the Masters title from closest challenger Riley Rodgers, who has been consistent throughout the year and took second overall at Schoolhouse to keep the gap at 55 points.
READ MORE: BRIDGESTONE BRITISH MASTERS NEWS
The Small Wheel 85 championship is looking a little more clear-cut, as Arthur King’s clean sweep of wins last time out puts him 88 points clear of nearest challenger Teddy Merriman.
King has enjoyed most of the victories this year, but Merriman has been super consistent, and he will be hoping to grab a late win to keep the pressure on.
Injury meant that previous title challenger Jett Gardiner dropped out of the title race, but if fully recovered could be one to watch.
The Big Wheel 85 category has been a classic in British motocross this year, with six very closely matched riders battling it out for honours. The Masters, however, has seen a shake-up in the points standings, with four of the top riders absent at the previous round due to a date clash with the EMX 85cc round at Loket.
Of those that remained, Archie Stapley took full advantage at Schoolhouse, with two moto wins helping him to a 19-point championship lead. A black-flag due to mechanical problems set
Joel Winstanley-Dawson is behind, but a final moto win gives him a good opportunity to fight back from second position at Foxhill.
Archie Butterfield’s Schoolhouse podium leaves him third in the rankings, and still a title outsider 89 points adrift.
However, there will be a real dynamic in this class with previous frontrunners Olly Waters, Arthur Moore, Cohen Jagielski and Harley Marczak all expected to be back in action.
Whilst realistically out of contention, all could challenge for wins, potentially causing some real point swings in the title race, and potentially still with a championship podium shout.
Further back, look out for Jenson Severn, who’s improved during the year and took a hard-fought moto win at Schoolhouse, as he battles with another rising star, Henry Lewis.
The MXY2 class has also seen a few different riders share the honours, but as they move to Foxhill, it’s Ollie Bubb who leads the way by just 18 points from George Corke. In a fashion similar to the 125s, Bubb has done most of the winning this year, but Corke has remained very close and consistent throughout, and with such a small points gap, neither rider can afford a bad moto at Foxhill.
Moving up to third in the series is Rhys Whyment, who built on his Hawkstone moto win with a podium at Schoolhouse.
124 points down, he’s still mathematically in the title race, but realistically will be hoping to win the battle for the final podium spot, which is still closely fought between him, Lewis Proud and Max Corke.
We’ve perhaps saved the closest until last, where a hard-fought season in the Clubman category has left an incredible eight riders still in with a mathematical chance of winning the title!
Of those, Lee Clarkson has looked the favourite in recent rounds, but a heavy qualifying crash at Schoolhouse preceded a tough weekend got him as he lost points to his rivals. Despite this, he was able to claw back some momentum by Sunday, and leads the title race by just 7 points from Matt Fuller.
The series challenger hasn’t won a moto this year, but has been superbly consistent in what is a very challenging group.
The overall winners at Hawkstone and Schoolhouse, respectively, were Ryan Christian and Daniel Chapman; they sit third and fourth in the series, 22 and 50 points adrift, respectively. Both could still be in with a realistic title shout at Foxhill.
Just behind the leading trio, Mitchil Collins and former champion Richard Roberts are sitting as title outsiders; however, both are potentially in with a decent chance if they can get some good results on Saturday, whilst further back Jamie Collins and early pace setter Elliott Pugh still have at least a mathematical chance going into the first moto.
Action starts at 9am both days, youth and amateur racers starting the weekend with qualifying before two blocks of racing.
The Fix Auto UK Pro class joins the programme on Sunday, with their qualifying session preceding the final two blocks of racing for 2025.
Admission is just £10 for the weekend, the commodious Foxhill venue has plenty of room for camping, so why not come along, enjoy the end of season festivities, and some closely fought motocross action to round off an exciting season of British motocross!
If you know your motocross you’ll likely know how to find Foxhill, but if you’re not sure, or even a first time visitor, hit postcode SN4 0DR into your sat-nav, if you’re using what 3 words the location is: famed.sway.lotteries
For the latest information on the series and championship progress during the weekend, search for ‘Bridgestone British Masters’ on social media channels.
