News

Anticipation is building as the 2024 British Arenacross Championship races into the nearly sold-out SSE Arena Belfast for two nights of high-octane action this weekend (19 & 20 January).

Following his emotional breakthrough victory in the opening round in Manchester, championship leader Jack Brunell (Stark Future) will be aiming to carry his early form into rounds three and four of the championship.

After a challenging weekend in Manchester, Conrad Mewse (Crendon TRU7 Honda Racing) will be looking to get his title challenge back on track, particularly following the news that reigning Arenacross champion Tommy Searle (Dirt Store Kawasaki) has been ruled out with a hand injury following a crash at round 2.

Searle will be replaced in the Dirt Store Kawasaki line-up by France’s Thomas Do following his impressive Arenacross debut at AX Fest at Bolesworth Castle, Cheshire last September.

Despite being unable to compete, Tommy Searle will still be attending every round of the series in his role as series ambassador, meeting fans, taking part in track walks and much more.

Dundonald’s own James Mackrel (Team Geartec Norman Watt Racing) will be leading the local charge and hoping ‘home’ advantage will help him secure a big result in the Traxxas Pro Class in front of the local crowd.

Elsewhere on the schedule, homegrown rising stars Mason Shields, Robbie Reid, Ryan Jackson, and Lewis Spratt will also hoping to make a big impact.

9-year-old Mason from Lurgan said: “I’m really looking forward to riding in-front of my home crowd and putting on a good show. I love the indoor feeling with the lights and music… I’d really like to score a podium.”

Matt Bates, Arenacross Promoter said: “We’re so excited to be here in Belfast for rounds three and four of Arenacross in 2024!

“We had an amazing event in Manchester and the championship is extremely close going into rounds three and four here. There’s plenty of talking points going into the weekend to look out for, can Jack Brunell maintain his form and how will the Stark Varg perform on very different track layout. Conrad Mewse was rapid in Manchester, can he recover following some frustrations and take the challenge to Jack?

“Also how will Thomas Do do? He made a big impact at AX Fest last year and it’ll be exciting to see how he does in Tommy’s place. Obviously we’d love to have our champion competing, but injuries are an unfortunate part of racing but we’re glad he’s already on the mend and with us in Northern Ireland.

“We’ve got a sell-out crowd for Saturday and a handful of tickets left for Friday, so if you’re planning on making Arenacross part of your weekend don’t wait! Tickets are selling fast… head to www.arenacrossuk.com now.”

For fans not able to make the trip to Belfast, subscribe to AXTV by visiting www.arenacross-tv1.vhx.tv

Following an amazing opening weekend in Manchester the British Arenacross Championship presented by Fix Auto UK races into the SSE Arena, Belfast this weekend (January 19 & 20)!

After his emotional breakthrough victory last time around, Jack Brunell (Stark Future) will be looking to carry his form across the Irish Sea and continue to stake his claim as a title contender, whilst reigning champion Tommy Searle (Dirt Store Kawasaki) and rival Conrad Mewse (Crendon TRU7 Honda Racing) will be looking to get their campaigns back on track after frustrating starts in Manchester.

Competing against them will be Dundonald’s own James Mackrel (Team Geartec Norman Watt Racing), who’ll be hoping ‘home’ advantage will help him secure a big result in the Traxxas Pro Class in front his local crowd.

Mackrel was busy ‘scouting the arena’ over the weekend by attending the Belfast Giants ice hockey team’s win over the Nottingham Panthers.

Local motocross rising stars Mason Shields, Robbie Reid, Ryan Jackson, and Lewis Spratt will also be featuring in classes specifically designed for young riders.

9-year-old Mason Shields from Lurgan is one of the locals hoping to make a big impact. The youngster has been racing since the age of three at this local track, he said: “I’m really looking forward to riding in-front of my home crowd and putting on a good show.

“It’s going to be awesome; I love the indoor feeling with the lights and music… I’d really like to score a podium.”

Matt Bates, Arenacross Promoter said: ““I’m still catching my breath from Manchester! What an evening and what a way to kick-off the British Arenacross Championship presented by Fix Auto UK in 2024.

“We can’t wait to land in Belfast this weekend; Northern Ireland is without doubt one of our favourite places to visit and there’s no greater buzz than the sight and sound of the SSE Arena rocking as our riders and show wows the crowd!

“We’re delighted to have so many local riders from Northern Ireland competing this year. Whilst the pro class tends to get a lot of attention, the amateur and youth classes are the beating heart of Arenacross and where you’ll see some of the most thrilling racing.

“Arenacross has a proud history of being a proving ground for young riders and giving them a launching pad other series can’t match. I’m sure the crowd will get behind the local riders and give them amazing support at the weekend.”

Tickets are selling fast, don’t miss the British Arenacross Championship at the SSE Arena this weekend, visit www.arenacrossuk.com now!

Jack Brunell (Stark Future) scored his long-awaited first victory in the British Arenacross Championship presented by Fix Auto UK with an electrifying win at Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday.

The experienced rider from London took an emotional victory 10 years in the making in the Traxxas Pro Main Event, dedicating the win to the memory of his father who passed away last year.

Riding the brand new all-electric Stark Future, the pro final saw Jack enjoy a thrilling battle with Harri Kullas (FUS Marsh Geartec), passing and repassing each other until he managed to hold off the Estonian and establish a gap which he held to the chequered flag.

Kullas finished in second, with Dylan Woodcock (Mark McCann 64 YouTube Channel) coming home in third.

2023 Arenacross British Championship runner-up Conrad Mewse (Crendon TRU7 Honda Racing) finished in fourth in the pro final (after initially being classed 10^th following a timing problem). The 24-year-old from Somerset started the event rapidly, setting the fastest lap time in qualifying before taking a clear win in the first heat. In the second a collision with Harri Kullas saw him valiantly battle through the pack to finish second and set fastest lap despite traffic.

Ahead of the final a technical glitch meant Mewse was forced to swap to the team’s spare bike, and following a tentative start he built speed before slicing through the field again.

Reigning champion Tommy Searle (Dirt Store Kawasaki) endured a frustrating chapter of his title defence. A clash with Eddie Wade (Stark Future) left him crashing out of his final heat. He continued through to the Head to Heads before a mistake took him out in the semi-final. An injury to Tommy’s hand meant unfortunately he was unable to compete in the Last Chance Qualifier, ruling him out of the Traxxas Main Event.

Matt Bates, Arenacross Series Promoter said: “I’m still catching my breath from Saturday night! What an evening and what a way to kick-off the British Arenacross Championship presented by Fix Auto UK in 2024.

“I’m delighted for Jack to get his long-awaited and deserved first victory in the championship after a decade of trying – his dad would be extremely proud of him. Also huge congratulations to Harri Kullas and Dylan Woodcock on joining Jack on the podium.

“Conrad Mewse is looking extremely fast, and I’m sure Tommy will be back on the pace when we head to the SSE Arena, Belfast on 19 and 20 January. It’s shaping up to be a very exciting championship ahead!”

Traxxas Pro Main Event Full Result 

1. Jack Brunell (155) | Stark Future
2. Harri Kullas (151) | FUS Marsh Geartec Racing
3. Dylan Woodcock (260) | Mark McCann 64 YouTube Channel
4. Conrad Mewse (426) | Crendon TRU7 Honda Racing
5. Ashley Greedy (33) | S Briggs 10 Central Honda
6. Justin Bogle (19) | Stark Future
7. Adam Chatfield (407) | Mark McCann 64 Youtube Channel
8. Jayden Ashwell (211) | AJP Racing Suzuki
9. Mel Pocock (119) | Dirt Store Kawasaki
10. Elliott Banks-Browne (44) | FUS Marsh Geartec Racing
11. Matthew Bayliss (17) | S Briggs 10 Central Honda
12. James Mackrel (65) | Team Geartec Norman Watt Racing
13. Eddie Wade (217) | Stark Future
14. Luke Burton (14) | Team Geartec Norman Watt Racing

Full event results available from MyLaps

British Arenacross Championship Standings (Riders) – After Two Rounds

1. Jack Brunell (155) | Stark Future – 26 points
2. Conrad Mewse (426) | Crendon TRU7 Honda Racing – 23 points
3. Ashley Greedy (33) | S Briggs 10 Central Honda – 17 points
4. Tommy Searle (100) | Dirt Store Kawasaki – 16 points
5. Adam Chatfield (407) | Mark McCann 64 Youtube Channel – 16 points
6. Harri Kullas (151) | FUS Marsh Geartec Racing – 13 points
7. Dylan Woodcock (260) | Mark McCann 64 Youtube Channel – 11 points
8. Thomas Do (777) | Stark Future – 10 points
9. Elliott Banks-Browne (44) | FUS Marsh Geartec Racing – 9 points
10. Justin Bogle (19) | Stark Future – 8 points
11. Luke Burton (14) | Team Geartec Norman Watt Racing – 7 points
12. Adam Sterry (811) | 7 Points
13. Jayden Ashwell (211) | AJP Racing Suzuki – 6 points
14. Mel Pocock (119) | Dirt Store Kawasaki – 5 points
15. Ben Clayton (11) | AJP Racing Suzuki – 4 points
16. Jake Preston (957) | FUS Marsh Geartec Racing – 3 points
17. Matt Bayliss (17) | S Briggs 10 Central Honda – 3 points
18. James Mackrel (65) | Team Geartec Norman Watt Racing – 2 points
19. Scooter Webster (127) | D.A.D. Judd Racing BWR Tech – 2 points
20. Eddie Wade (217) | Stark Future – 1 point.

British Arenacross Championship Standings (Teams) – After Two Rounds

1. Stark Future – 23 points
2. Mark McCann 64 YouTube Channel – 18 points
3. FUS Marsh Geartec Racing – 17 points
4. S Briggs 10 Central Honda – 12 points
5. Crendon TRU7 Honda Racing – 10 points
6. AJP Racing Suzuki – 6 points
7. Dirt Store Kawasaki – 5 points
8. Team Geartec Norman Watt Racing – 2 points
9. Armor Vision Racing – 0 points
10. SC Sporthomes Husqvarna – 0 points
11. SR75 Suzuki Racing – 0 points
12. D.A.D. Judd Racing BWR Tech – 0 Points

Whilst there’s a stacked field of quality riders to witness flying around the British Arenacross Championship circuits in the 2024 tour, there’s no doubt that two of the leading contenders will be the top two from the 2023 Championship – reigning champion Tommy Searle, and new British Motocross Champion Conrad Mewse!

We caught up with both of them in the week ahead of the opening race leading up to the opening race in Manchester, and to make it fair we asked them exactly the same questions!

AX: 2023 saw you both at the sharp end, finishing top two on all but one occasion, but not often on the same point of the track together. Do you think you’ll have more on-track battles through the 2024 season?

Tommy: We’ll have to see when the gate drops! I’m normally quite good off the start so my plan is to get the start and get away, but we’ll have to wait and see, there are a lot of good riders and you never know, which is the best part of Arenacross!

Conrad: Yeah, I hope so, we weren’t together much because my starts were terrible! I’m certain that we’ve got them sorted this year, so we’ll be at the sharp end, he’s a good starter and a good racer so I’m looking forward to some close races and good battles with him and many other guys.

AX: What are your thoughts on the Stark team, especially with Jack Brunell being competitive at your level last year, and now he has the electric bike too?

Tommy: I think it will be good to see, it’s an unknown really, we know they’re good out of the start, and on some ground and tracks they will be better than others. We’ll have to wait and see. I spoke to Jack and he seems to like it. I don’t know if I’m gonna like racing them or not, it takes you by surprise sometimes because you don’t know where they are on the track. They could be close and not really making a bad move, but because you can’t hear them it can be unsettling.

Conrad: I’m not familiar with the other riders, they’ve got a solid line-up and those bikes are very good out the gate so for sure. All three of them are going be up there from the get-go and Arenacross isn’t easy to pass, so I think it will give them a fantastic shot at getting some good results.

AX: Do you know Justin Bogle, and how much of a threat do you think he will be?

Tommy: I think a lot, I think he’s good. It’s nice to have an AMA Champion racing the series, especially on the Stark, I think it brings a lot to the Championship. He’s a good starter anyway and I think he will be in the mix.

Conrad: No I have no idea, I know his name, I imagine he’s very good at Supercross. I’ve never seen him ride in person, and I think UK Arenacross is a lot different to what he’s used to over there. It would be cool to mix it up with him and hopefully it’s not a walk in the park for him and we can put a challenge to him.

AX: Is there anyone else on your radar who you think might be an issue for you?

Tommy: I don’t know, mainly the Starks and Conrad. I think Harri will be good, he’s a good starter, I think there will be a few more riders in the mix for the podium, and I think that will make it better with more of us fighting for wins. It’s one of the exciting things about Arenacross, it’s short races and intense so you never know what to expect, we’ll have to see on the night!

Conrad: Yes there’s some good riders, Arenacross is pretty crazy and anyone can win it, a lot of things can happen. I try not to think about other people, I just focus on myself, just make sure I get my start dialled in and the rest will follow. I’m sure a lot of people will turn up on the night and different people will shine in different places, it looks like a strong line-up and I’m looking forward to getting racing again.

AX: Last year you were fresh to Arenacross, with experience only from years ago so hardly relevant. With one Tour under your belts, have you changed your preparation much now you know what to expect?

Tommy: Not really no, it’s been hard for any of us who haven’t been able to get out to Spain. I’ve got a track to practice on but it’s been too wet, so I’ve been up at SX Worx to prepare a bit up there, just done what I can. I feel that I take to the tracks pretty well and the tracks are well prepared.

Conrad: I’d really like to say the preparation has been a lot more! I’ve done a lot and I’m in a way better position than I was last year. I’ve got a whole series under my belt and I kinda know where I’m at now. I’ve just been doing my normal thing, been getting some intense riding in and some short sprints to match the AX races. It’s quite difficult because it’s such a short lap time, it’s hard to go practising on an Arenacross track for a whole day.

AX: How do you change your bike from a motocross setup to cope with AX?

Tommy: Just the gearing and suspension, we go up a couple of teeth on the sprocket so it’s a bit more ‘bottom-endy’. I’ve got the new 2024 450 Kawasaki which is a really, really good bike and I’ve been happy on that since I got on it. All I’ve done is put a pipe on it and an ECU, then changed the gearing.

Conrad: With the gearing, we make it a lot shorter to give it that extra response out of the turns to make the triples and on-offs, the suspension a lot stiffer, and that’s it. The Honda is a fantastic all-round bike and they’re the only things we change from indoors to outdoors. We wrapped up both outdoor titles on it last year, so it was obviously good enough and I’m looking forward to getting another year on it.

AX: Any changes from last year or is it the same team around you?

Tommy: No, there’s no one that’s come with me from last year, it’s a full new team, Dirt Store Kawasaki, owned by Nick at GTCI, joining forces with Jon Giffard from GRT. They both get the job done, and we have Mel Pocock on the team so he brings a lot of fun to it and there’s a really nice atmosphere.

Conrad: Yeah it’s exactly the same team around me, I’m a massive believer of ‘don’t fix what’s not broken’, I’ve got a fantastic group around me with an amazing mechanic, and the team’s just brilliant. The bike’s perfect, it hasn’t changed much so I’m in a very good place at the minute.

AX: What was your favourite venue from 2023?

Tommy: Belfast, I really like that one, and Birmingham was very good as well.

Conrad: It was probably Belfast. It was an awesome crowd, and I loved the dirt there, it was quite technical, and the track layout was awesome! I’ve never raced in Manchester so I’m looking forward to experiencing that one this weekend.

AX: How much merch do you sell from these events, and have you got any nice designs out for 2024?

Tommy: Yeah we do well with it, the whole Kecks thing with myself and Billy Bolt, it’s nice to give back to the sport and we have nearly sold out of the new 2024 kit we’ve got out there so it’s good. Arenacross have got me on their merchandise as well so it’s nice to see.

Conrad: No I don’t sell any merch! I haven’t got to that point yet, I would like to start it, but I just want to focus on my riding for a few more years, get some results in and then we can look at that sort of stuff.

AX: Finally, here’s a scenario: you’ve had a tricky qualifier and are in a head-to-head with Ashley Greedy – do you go inside the gate or out?

Tommy: I wouldn’t know, it depends on the first corner to be honest! I think Ash is good, it’s nice to have him back in the series. He’s a good rider, a lot of people think he just wants to take people out, but he’ll be really fast. He’ll be a good asset to the series, he’ll make it interesting but he’s not as bad as he used to be, I think he’s calmed down a bit. If I find myself in any head-to-head, I will be a little bit cautious!

Conrad: It all depends on the start! He’s known for being quite aggressive in the head-to-heads but I need to focus on my start, try and beat him out of the gate and ride my own race. For sure the inside would be stronger, just depends on what the track is like on the night.

So who is your favourite for the 2024 Arenacross crown? One of these two, or will one of the other contenders get amongst them to challenge for the title?!

Tickets for the 2024 British Arenacross Championship presented by Fix Auto UK are on sale now, visit www.arenacrossuk.com now.

Can’t make the show live? Don’t worry, we’re streaming every single round live on Vimeo so you needn’t miss a second of the high octane motocross action. From just £5.71 per round, you can also enjoy a host of content you won’t find anywhere else! Visit https://arenacross-tv1.vhx.tv/products for more information.

Announcer Jeff Perrett has been part of the British Arenacross Championship presented by Fix Auto UK since 2014. He’s a former pro-racer himself, so ahead of the new season we sat down with the microphone master to get his thoughts on the mouthwatering championship battle that lies ahead!

AX: Jeff, you’ve been calling Arenacross series since its inception, how excited are you for the 2024?

Jeff: Yes I have, and it doesn’t seem that long ago! Time flies when you’re having fun right? I’ve loved being part of the AX team from the very start, it’s a privilege to be out there calling it all these years and I’m thankful to Matt Bates and the team for the opportunity.

I remember the first one at the O2 and thinking it was just another commentating gig, until just before the start of the show when I looked out and saw most of the lower seating full up – it was the only time I got nervous! Just a few months before I’d been to see Pearl Jam play a gig there, then here I was about to walk out under the same spotlight with all eyes and ears on me; it was a bit surreal. I remember taking a deep breath and telling myself ‘just get through your first few sentences’; I embraced and enjoyed the experience and have ever since.

I’m genuinely excited for the 2024 series for many reasons. It’s been a tough few weeks with a family member in hospital over Christmas and the depressing weather, so I’m really looking forward to getting the 10th year of Arenacross kick started into life at Manchester, that coupled with the fact that I thought last year’s series was the best so far.

AX: With the return from Covid last year and the new British-based line-up, did the racing and the general atmosphere stand out as being something unique for the AX Tour?

Jeff: Absolutely! Matt and I had a conversation about making it a British-only series several years before, so I’m pleased he did. The buzz in the pits was better and I think that was because everyone knows each other. That’s no disrespect to any overseas riders that have raced the series, but when they do they understandably tend to stay in their own circle. Also to have predominantly British riders only I think will get the more hardcore British motocross fan and industry more involved because there’s more of a connection. Joe public wouldn’t know Greg Aranda from Tommy Searle for example, so I don’t think getting bigger names in really makes that much difference. They just want to be entertained with a good show, close racing and by having the top British riders all racing closely on the same level makes for better racing, I think. Last year saw some of the closest and most exciting racing we’ve had from front of the pack to the back because we didn’t have some international indoor specialist romping away with it out front.

As a fan of the sport, which I am first and foremost, I think Arenacross is really important in trying to improve British motocross and helps get that back on track somewhat. There’s a new, fresh audience coming out to Arenacross and seeing dirt bike racing for the first time; it’s a starting point for them to take up the sport if they’re influenced by what they see and to go to their local motocross dealer or track.

You can’t jump straight into AX. American motocross boomed in the 1970s and a major part of that was the introduction of Supercross in 1972. Now Arenacross is an ACU sanctioned championship I’d love to see Matt, the ACU and the two British ACU motocross championships work out a long-term plan to promote the sport as a combined force, a bit like what they’re now doing with SuperMotocross in America.

I think that would also help attract our best young talent to race Arenacross. I’d love to see a combined points system somehow where we have a ‘Grand National’ champion or call it ‘Champion of Champions’ and the rider with the most points across all ACU championships gets to run a blue plate with a gold number like they used to do in America… I think that would be cool.
Let’s make stars of the riders we’ve got here at home and have a better planned structure to develop youth talent. With more indoor racing these days and the new World Supercross series I know if I had a kid racing, I’d be focusing on Arenacross and indoor racing as a career path and even if they didn’t make the grade in that it would still improve their skill set for motocross.

Let’s be brutally honest here, you’re more likely to get better exposure for existing sponsors and pick up some more by racing Arenacross due to the footfall of people coming out to watch. As much as I love motocross and it will always be the pure form for me, indoor racing packages our sport better to the general public and the corporate world. Riders, bikes and everyone stay clean and in the warm, it’s easier to follow and understand what’s going on in front of you. It’s also easier to film and livestream.

AX: What’s exciting you most about 2024? Tommy vs Conrad take two? Jack Brunell on a Stark? Harri Kullas in the mix? Justin Bogle, or even the return of Ashley Greedy?

Jeff: Everything you just mentioned! Honestly, there’s not one thing in particular. As my co-commentator Matt Crowhurst and I often say, ‘it’s Arenacross and anything can and usually does happen’. It’s the nature of the beast and with all that talent out there on a tight track and amped by the atmosphere something has got to give.

AX: You get involved on the mic with the crowd and also with the Freestyle crew – how much has the Freestyle team raised its game over the years, and what’s your favourite FMX trick?

Jeff: That side of the sport has evolved so much since Carey Hart’s backflip and our guys smash it every show. As much as FMX has evolved, my favourite trick is still ‘The Whip’ but that’s from my appreciation and love of motocross and being an old duffer who used to like doing them. I have huge respect for those guys, especially when they do the ‘train’ runs. There’s no room for error there at all. If one of them gets it wrong, it’s not going to end well. F**k that for a game of soldiers! They’re braver men than I’ll ever be.

AX: Do you think the Stark team coming in will see a whole wave of electric bikes taking over the series eventually?

Jeff: In a word, yes… and I know that Matt (Bates) sees it the same. Like it or loathe it, electric will open opportunities to race in city centres, country shows and so on. Although I don’t want to see electric bikes in traditional motocross races as such, but to be fair I think that transition will take more time that people think.

I’d be okay with an all-electric Arenacross style of racing though. Short tracks, easy for the public to follow and understand, I think that will help promote dirt bike riding in general. When motocross goes all electric, I’ll be stepping out of the game I reckon. I’m knocking on now and I know I’d miss the buzz of the smells and sounds that evoke some of the best memories of my life.

AX: Finally, any predictions for the new season? Manchester winner, other winners, and overall Champion maybe?

Jeff: I had some good banter with Tommy last year because I never chose him for a win when I was asked several times throughout the championship. He pulled me up on it most times and of course went on to win. So he can thank my reverse psychology mentoring for that! As the co-host of the championship, I’m going to go ‘all Ricky Carmichael’ on this and not make a prediction and sit on the fence.

Having said that I would love to see Jack Brunell win, not because he’s on the Stark but for him. He’s worked hard at it and dedicated his racing career to Arenacross and Supercross and his dad was and still is a huge influence and inspiration to him. I know how much it would mean to him, and I’d love to see that happen.

Whatever happens I’m sure it will be another awesome series. I wish all the racers across all the classes the very best of luck and to put on a great show for the public, but most of all to have fun and enjoy the experience. That’s why we do what we do and people should never lose sight of that.

AX: Many thanks Jeff we hope you have a great tour and will see you out there!

Tickets for the 2024 British Arenacross Championship presented by Fix Auto UK are on sale now, visit www.arenacrossuk.com now.

Can’t make the show live? Don’t worry, we’re streaming every single round live on Vimeo so you needn’t miss a second of the high octane motocross action. From less than £6 per round, you can also enjoy a host of content you won’t find anywhere else! Visit https://arenacross-tv1.vhx.tv/products for more information.

One of the most exciting and intriguing additions to the British Arenacross Championship Presented by Fix Auto UK for 2024 is the new Stark Future team, running the all-new Stark Varg.

This means an electric motorcycle will race against standard internal combustion machinery, counting for points in an official national championship for the very first time in history.

With legendary two-time World Motocross Champion Sebastien Tortelli (one of the fastest racers on the planet in the 1990s) in charge, a team consisting of reigning series #3 Jack Brunell, former AMA Lites Champion Justin Bogle and young British charger Eddie Jay Wade, Stark have the manpower to make the best of the machinery and show how well the bike can perform.

The Varg (Swedish for ‘wolf’) produces around 80 bhp, a level equivalent to a well-tuned 450F motocross bike, and despite weighing slightly more, riders say it feels lighter because of how the weight is distributed. It runs without a clutch, so that twist-and-go feel is easy to ride because the engine is always in the ‘sweet spot’ and missing a gear is never a problem!

Sebastien Tortelli said: “We’re very enthusiastic about competing with combustion motorcycles, sharing our vision and the potential of electric motorcycles. We were invited last year but weren’t ready, so now after two years of development and testing the bike is good to line up. We started preparation for Arenacross in July 2023, then got Jack and Justin onboard in November. The bike is charged onsite, and one charge would be enough for the whole night’s programme, although we still charge between races just to be sure.”

So what’s it like to ride? Jack Brunell said: “The biggest thing is there’s no gear changes; the power just keeps going through the whoops, but I never used a clutch on a 450 anyway. Just using my natural throttle control, through feel and not through sound, I can race as normal and put the power on correctly for the traction available.”

Oklahoma’s Justin Bogle is making his debut in the Arenacross British Championship and loving the prospect of riding in a country where he has a strong family connection, he said: “My wife Charlise is from Essex, so we have family here! I’m super-excited to race the series; it’s completely new for me but especially to race the Stark as well – it’s something different and cool to do, for me it’s a similar change to going from two-stroke to four-stroke. I’m really pumped on working with the Stark guys, and I’m not wearing a salesman’s hat here when I say that riding it is legitimately as much fun as I’ve ever had on a dirt bike.”

Justin will be staying near the Stark factory in Barcelona for the duration of the championship, he said: “I’m an American and I love America, but to be staying in two countries that are so cool for the next couple months is going to be great.

“I’ve seen Tommy and Conrad racing on the footage from Arenacross TV, they look fast, and the series looks like it’s doing great things for the Motocross community in the UK. I don’t know too many guys there, although Neil Prince was my mechanic at World Supercross and he’s a ‘good bloke’ as they say, so it would be nice to see him and get to know the other guys too.”

Matt Bates, Arenacross promoter said: “With the experience of Jack Brunell and Justin Bogle, the aggression of Eddie Jay Wade, together with the leadership of Sebastien Tortelli overseeing the operation, Team Stark Future are a unique and tantalising proposition to watch closely for the 2024 British Arenacross Championship!”

Tickets for the 2024 British Arenacross Championship presented by Fix Auto UK are on sale now, visit www.arenacrossuk.com now.

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The 2024 Arenacross British Championship presented by Fix Auto UK kick starts this weekend at Manchester’s AO Arena, and the very top names in British motocross will return to action with some intriguing additions that’ll make this year’s racing as unpredictable as ever!

Without doubt the rivalry on everyone’s minds is between Dirt Store Kawasaki’s Tommy Searle and Crendon Honda Racing’s star rider Conrad Mewse. The pair were first and second in the 2023 Championship, and lead the standings for 2024 already following AX Fest at Bolesworth last September. Aside from a single night in Aberdeen last January where Conrad and Tommy came together on-track, they shared the first and second spots on the podium between themselves at the end of every night of competition.

That tangle was one of the talking points of the series and represented the clash between two men who were born ten years apart, one with the savvy racecraft and one with the blinding speed that makes this such an intriguing rivalry! Not to say that 34-year-old Searle is without a turn of pace – he is capable of hitting the front and clearing off when the mood takes him from almost every other rider on the grid – but Mewse’s M.O. was the exact opposite in 2023 with not such a great average start position usually followed by spell-binding rides through the pack with his Main Event charge from last to first in London proving this.

The contrast in styles doesn’t end there, as Mewse is the quiet Somerset guy who mostly plays things down, whilst Kent-born Searle has become known more for his YouTube Channel antics in recent years that has improved his popularity in no small measure. Both with 4 outdoor British titles to their name, the rivalry didn’t continue outdoors in 2023 as Searle got hurt early on in the season. With Tommy defending his title and ‘still wanting to be the man’, he’ll be fighting harder than ever to keep the young pretender back in AX ’24!

Their most consistent competition in 2023 came from indoor specialist Jack Brunell. After a massive crash in the very first Heat Race of the season, which saw him in hospital with bruised lungs, Jack amazingly returned to racing the very next night, and took a painful 3rd place! The 35-year-old Londoner – although his hairstyle makes him look 20 years younger – has great pace, and regularly gets a great start, but his injuries got to him all through the Tour, leaving him 3rd in every single round after that disastrous first night. Now healthy and armed with the new factory Stark Varg electric machine, he is again ready to take on the outdoor boys who have invaded his patch.

Jack will be joined on the electric machine by the intriguing Justin Bogle – the 2014 East Coast Lites AMA Supercross Champion from Okhlahoma with a gravelly voice and smooth riding style. Married to an English lady and living on this side of the Atlantic, the Stark has given Justin a new lease of life, and if it starts as well as it did at Bolesworth, the #19 could be a serious threat.
Always hot off the gate is the smooth Estonian star Harri Kullas – unable to race AX last year due to issues getting bikes in time, Harri has been racing on these shores for years and collected multiple National titles in the process. After winning the Finnish Sampere Supercross in November, his natural talent will also make him a threat, and he knows both Conrad and Tommy very well – can he spring a surprise on his new FUS Marsh Husqvarna weaponry?

Just to really spice up proceedings, after quite simply not being permitted to race in 2023 due to a history of, shall we say, colourful riding that might have put off the bulk of the entrants to the relaunched series last year, is popular Welsh charger Ashley Greedy!

Just as comfortable in deep Beach Racing sands these days, Ash developed a fearful reputation after a series of head-to-head races went viral in years gone by. With brother Josh in the Pro-Am races, Ash wanted to be back on track himself and was allowed back for the AX Fest on the basis that he be on his best behaviour. There were no complaints after Bolesworth so now he is back on the tour with the S Briggs 10 Central Honda team, alongside Matt Bayliss. Will he get through an entire seven-night series without further incident, especially as Head-to-Head races are back again?

Through multi-time British Champion and AX main event winner, Elliott Banks Browne, Vets MXDN hero Mel Pocock and future stars, Dylan Woodcock, Eddie Wade and Ben Clayton – Arenacross is set for seven nights of typically unpredictable indoor race action!