Young British trio look for Hawkstone success
 Only
two weeks now separate off-road racing fans and their first
chance to see Britain’s leading trio of moto-x riders
Carl Nunn, Tommy Searle and Billy Mackenzie fly their new
colours. The Hawkstone Park International Moto-X on Sunday
4th March, not only counts on an entry list with many star
names from the FIM Motocross World Championship, but also
all of the UK’s main hopes for the 2007 Grand Prix campaign.
Seventeen year old Searle – 2006 MX2 British Championship
runner-up - will bring his new factory KTM to Shropshire for
his debut on English soil with the feared Austrian machine
(winner of four World Championships in the last seven years).
‘I really like the track and everything has been going
well with the new team and the bike,’ Britain’s
breakthrough star in ‘06 said. ‘Hawkstone will
be my first proper race on the KTM so I am looking forward
to it. I have been training hard over the winter and my riding
has been good lately so I am feeling positive.’
The Salop Motorcycle Club is also pleased to count on the
attendance of Britain’s main MX1 hope, Billy Mackenzie,
now a works Kawasaki rider. The twenty two year old Scot broke
his collarbone in January, but has since fully healed and
is looking forward to tackling the Hawkstone hill with extra
horsepower. ‘The year did not start off as I hoped,
but the operation went well and the arm feels really strong.
I started riding again at the beginning of February and I
only had some bike-time to make up,’ the double Japanese
GP winner commented. ‘It feels great to be on the Kawasaki;
it is very strong and that gives you confidence as a rider.
I had a good race at Hawkstone last year and I thought it
would set me up for a great year although things did not work
out despite a few decent races. I like the sand and showed
what I could do on a 250 against all the MX1 bikes last time
so I have to be optimistic on the KX in March. I want to show
the fans that they will really have someone to cheer on in
MX1 this season and Hawkstone would be the ideal place to
begin the season on the right note.’
Double MX2 British Champion Carl Nunn completes the swap-around
as the reigning number one and former KTM pilot assumes the
Bike it Yamaha 250cc four-stroke vacated by Mackenzie. ‘The
team can’t do enough for me and we have been doing a
lot of testing with new stuff every time,’ remarked
Nunn who along with Mackenzie and Searle represented Great
Britain in last year’s Motocross of Nations. ‘I
have a new trainer and things are going well. Obviously I
like Hawkstone and the Championship win there last year doesn’t
feel too long ago. The International is not the same as a
Grand Prix or British Championship race; it is a chance to
see where you are with the bike and prep. Even though it is
fun you still really want to win.’
Cutting through the sand with Searle, Mackenzie and Nunn
will be Gordon Crockard, Mark Jones, Wayne Smith, Tom Church,
Ray Rowson and hopefully multi British Champ Stephen Sword
on his way back from a long-term injury.
A large trade village will provide you with bargains galore
and will add the final ingredient in what promises to be one
of the biggest days in British moto-x during 2007. Miss it
and miss out. Visitors can save up to £5.00 per ticket
by booking in advance and can take advantage of an incredible
family offer that represents a £25.00 reduction, all
of which will not be available on the gate at these special
prices.
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