The long wait is over, and the 2026 Motul ACU British Motocross Championship opening round is upon us as we embark on a trip to the famous Hawkstone Park circuit in Shropshire on Sunday, March 15th, for the season opener.
Images courtesy of MXGB – Insight Media
The biggest entry for a good number of years has entered to race, which means MX2 will be split into two qualifying groups with the top 18 from each qualifying straight through to the main races, while the remaining riders will have to duke it out in an LCQ, where the top eight will go through. In the 125’s, there are 50 entrants, and again an LCQ will be needed to decide the final qualifiers. MX1, for the first time in a while, will also have a full 40 rider line-up.
MX1
Our reigning MX1 champion Conrad Mewse who is back on his Crendon Tru7 Honda is expected to have a fight on his hands with two new protaganists after his crown in 2026, in the form of former British MX2 champion and GP winner Ben Watson who joins the series with the Dirt Store Triumph racing team and Gabriel SS24 KTM’s Spanish ace Oriol Oliver who we have already seen strutting his stuff at GP level this year.
Add into the mix last year’s other two podium dwellers, Adam Sterry on the Chambers Racing KTM and West country racer, Josh Gilbert on his new ride with Apico Honda, both of whom have it in their locker to notch up multiple podiums and race wins.
READ MORE: BRITISH MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS
The pack is deep too with a whole host of riders looking to break into the top five and higher including Scottish Champs Round 1 winner Tristan Purdon of Lexa MX, Taylor Hammal on his DRT Kawasaki, Privateers Bobby Bruce, Brad Todd, Eddie Jay Wade, & Louie Kessell, Crendon Tru7 Honda’s Jamie Carpenter, Chambers Racing’s Dan Thornhill, Absolute MX KTM’s Ben Edwards, Apico Honda’s Tom Grimshaw, Motocycle Racings Jason Meara, Phoenix Tools Fantic’s, Carlton Husband and SC Sporthomes Husqvarna’s Charlie Putnam.
The Stark Future duo of Steven Clarke and Louis Brookes will also be interesting to watch as they make history racing their Electric Stark Varg machines.
MX1 Rookies to watch out for are Freddie Bartlett, Raife Broadley and McKenzie Marshall.
MX2
In MX2, the big question is, can anyone topple the old master Tommy Searle?? The Dirt Store Triumph rider fought adversity, a broken back and the onslaught of the young guns to claim the 2025 title despite missing a round, but can he hold the next generation back who are getting stronger and faster?
Top of his threats to supremacy are the likes of SC Sporthomes Husqvarna’s Charlie Heyman, who was second last year, ASA United GasGas’s Ben Mustoe, Triumph rider Joe Brookes, SevenSeven2 Ride Kawasaki’s Joel Rizzi, Gabriel SS24 KTM’s Gyan Doensen, Dirt Store Triumphs Billy Askew, Chambers Racing’s Ollie Colmer, Worx Total Triumphs Callum Mitchell, Phoenix Tools Fantic Racing’s Josh Vail and Max Harris.
More experienced riders who have their eyes on the sharp end will be the swashbucking John Adamson on his Phoenixs Tools Fantic 2 Stroke, the consistently fast Chambers Racing rider Glenn McCormick, Dutch star Davy Pootjes on the Absolute MX KTM and Garland Powersports rider Liam Garland.
On the other end of the spectrum, Rookie racers to keep your beadies on will be the 2025 British 125cc Champ Charlie Richmond on his new Crendon Tru7 Honda ride, Jamie Keith back from injury, 2 Stroke stalwart Ryan Waggott, Zane Stephens, plus Max & George Corke. Multi time Eurpean Womens Champion Lucy Barker has already shown great speed in Scotland this year and will be well in the mix.
125cc
The 125cc class has had a big shake-up with plenty of new young hopefuls looking to make a name for themselves in the sport. Drew Stock on the JK Yamaha and Hayden Statt on the Chambers Racing KTM are two of the standout riders, but there is plenty of talent on show, including the likes of Lucas Moncrieff, Christopher Brindley, Finley Pickering and Alfie Geddes Green, who all showed good speed last year. But watch out for the up-and-comers, with Joel Winstanley Dawson, Arthur Moore, Harley Marczak, Olly Waters and a heap of others all having the speed to make their mark on the championship in 2026. It will be exciting to see our next batch of young stars emerge.
So make sure you dial into Dirt Hub throughout the weekend for your up-to-date results and content from Hawkstone, and for those who are making the trip to Hawkstone, here is the event info to get you genned up for your trip.
The Venue
Hawkstone Park MX Track
Shrewsbury
SY4 4NA
WHAT THREE WORDS – ANIMAL.RATTLER.SHUDDERS
The postcode for the circuit is SY4 4NA Height at paddock 100 metres height at highest section 130 metres
Hawkstone Park MX Circuit is centrally located in the UK, just off the A49 near to the villages of Hopton, Wem, Prees, Shawbury and Whitchurch.
The exit off the A49 can be found between B5065 and B5063, and is sign posted “Booley / Stanton ”
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased Online >>HERE<< or on the gate
Prices are:
Adults £25
Children 5-15 £5
Family ticket (2 adults & 2 Children) £60
Spectator Camping Ticket for Saturday evening £20
Entry Lists
Check out the Entry Lists >>HERE<<
Live Streaming
Nothing official has been announced about the Live Stream, but we expect the event to be streamed via the MXGB TV channel on YouTube
Timetable
| Time | Group | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 – 9:00 | MX125 Start Practice, Free Practice, Timed Practice | Top 32 Qualify remainder to LCQ |
| 9:05 – 9:40 | MX2 Group 1 Start Practice, Free Practice, Timed Practice | Group 1 Riders Top 18 Advance |
| 9:40 – 10:15 | MX2 Group 2 Start Practice, Free Practice, Timed Practice | Group 2 Riders Top 18 Advance |
| 10:15 – 10:45 | MX1 Start Practice, Free Practice, Timed Practice | All MX1 Riders |
| 10:50 – 11:20 | MX125 LCQ | Top 8 advance to main events |
| 11:20 – 11:40 | MX2 LCQ | Top 4 advance to main events |
| 12:20 – 12:30 | MX125 Waiting Zone closes | Sighting Lap |
| 12:30 – 1:05 | MX125 Race 1 | Race 1 – 20 mins + 2 Laps |
| 1:05 – 1:15 | MX2 Waiting Zone closes | Sighting Lap |
| 1:15 – 1:55 | MX2 Race 1 | Race 1 – 25 Mins + 2 Laps |
| 1:55 – 2:05 | MX1 Waiting Zone Closes | Sighting Lap |
| 2:05 – 2:45 | MX1 Race 1 | Race 1 – 25 Mins + 2 Laps |
| 2:45 – 2:55 | 10 Min – Track work | Break |
| 2:55 – 3:05 | MX125 Waiting Zone Closes | Sighting Lap |
| 3:05 – 3:40 | MX125 – Race 2 | Race 2 – 20 Mins + 2 Laps |
| 3:40 – 3:50 | MX2 – Waiting Zone Closes | Sighting Lap |
| 3:50 – 4:30 | MX2 – Race 2 | Race 2 – 25 Mins + 2 Laps |
| 4:30 – 4:40 | MX1 – Waiting Zone Closes | Sighting Lap |
| 4:40 – 5:20 | MX1 – Race 2 | Race 2 – 25 Mins + 2 Laps |
| 5:30 | Podium | Podium |
