Quad champs face-off

The ACU launched its six-round 2013 British Quadcross Championship and the MCF also announcing its all-new five-round 2013 ATV's Only British Quadcross Championship. 

 

Although both organisations list their dates as ‘provisional', there are three date clashes that will either have to be resolved or ignored.

 

In 2012, there were rarely enough riders to make a full line-up for the ACU series, and for 2013 even the most insanely optimistic observer would be reluctant to bet on the sudden influx of enough willing and able riders to fill two championship series at every round.

 

So how did this come about?

 

Well there has been much discussion about the ACU QX series in recent years, and while the blame is variously distributed amongst the ACU, the clubs, the riders, the manufacturers, the dealers, the promoters, the press and anyone else standing by watching, depending upon on who you are talking to at the time. 

 

In truth, controversy, loud opinions, fall-outs, threats, lies and tears are all part and parcel of every championship at every level in every sport. 

 

The only real surprise in this case is that it has taken this long for an alternative QX series to be announced. 

 

Despite a barrage of loud doubters, the MCF has grown quickly in a short space of time, rapidly making serious inroads into many former ACU areas of the sport. 

 

Like the ACU, you will hear good and bad about the MCF, but clearly it must be doing more good than bad to be progressing, and at a fair pace it has to be said. 

 

So the MCF is certainly serious and capable of running a series. 

 

It also launched last week with a full set of rules, prize money and a title sponsor in the shape of specialist ATV trade-only distributor, ATV's Only. 

 

The ACU series doesn't yet have a sponsor, its 2013 rules and regs were not available at the Dirt Bike Show, and as we go to press they are still not available on its website, (only 2012 details), and the ACU only announced prize money at the show after the MCF series announcement. 

 

I'm not knocking the ACU, I am simply stating the facts. 

 

My understanding is also that a good number of leading quad riders have already committed to the MCF series, but it's early days and of course talk is cheap.  

 

At the Dirt Bike Show, the MCF's Roy Barton told me: "It's in no-one's interest to have a clash of dates and we will do our best to work around it. 

 

"The only date that we cannot alter is the July 28 meeting at Matterley Basin, as that is the only date available at that track. 

 

"The others we will look at. The ACU were seemingly less flexible or willing to negotiate. 

 

"They will have to change their dates,” I was told.

 

The 2013 ATV's Only MCF British Quadcross Championship will run as part of a new QMS, (Quad, Motocross, Sidecars), Nationals series organised by CMR Events. 

 

The QRA's Tony Nash will be on board to look after the quad side of things and will be the event liaison with the riders.

 

"Having organised our QRA events with the MCF over the past three years, I am excited that the Federation has embraced our sport and is sanctioning this fresh, rider focused British QX Championship for 2013 and beyond,” explained Tony. 

 

"We have a great team of people all pulling together from each discipline to produce an equal championship for the riders and our sport, be they on two, three or four wheels.”

 

The MCF series will be run over four rounds for the sidecars and the solos with one extra round being included for the quads. 

 

Discussions are apparently underway with circuits and these will be released as soon as they are finalised. 

 

The series website will also be launched ‘very shortly' when all the information is available.

 

So at this early stage the MCF appears to be taking an early lead in terms of presentation and ‘saying the right thing'. 

 

The ACU on the other hand appears to have been caught on the hop and needs to come back with a tempting plan, a firm route forwards and perhaps just a hint of humility and spirit of 

co-operation in the best interests of the sport. 

 

And would any of those insanely optimistic observers win any money by betting on that happening I wonder? The British QX Championship scene took an interesting turn at this year's International Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh Park. 

 

The ACU launched its six-round 2013 British Quadcross Championship and the MCF also announcing its all-new five-round 2013 ATV's Only British Quadcross Championship. 

 

Although both organisations list their dates as ‘provisional', there are three date clashes that will either have to be resolved or ignored.

 

In 2012, there were rarely enough riders to make a full line-up for the ACU series, and for 2013 even the most insanely optimistic observer would be reluctant to bet on the sudden influx of enough willing and able riders to fill two championship series at every round.

 

So how did this come about?

 

Well there has been much discussion about the ACU QX series in recent years, and while the blame is variously distributed amongst the ACU, the clubs, the riders, the manufacturers, the dealers, the promoters, the press and anyone else standing by watching, depending upon on who you are talking to at the time. 

 

In truth, controversy, loud opinions, fall-outs, threats, lies and tears are all part and parcel of every championship at every level in every sport. 

 

The only real surprise in this case is that it has taken this long for an alternative QX series to be announced. 

 

Despite a barrage of loud doubters, the MCF has grown quickly in a short space of time, rapidly making serious inroads into many former ACU areas of the sport. 

 

Like the ACU, you will hear good and bad about the MCF, but clearly it must be doing more good than bad to be progressing, and at a fair pace it has to be said. 

 

So the MCF is certainly serious and capable of running a series. 

 

It also launched last week with a full set of rules, prize money and a title sponsor in the shape of specialist ATV trade-only distributor, ATV's Only. 

 

The ACU series doesn't yet have a sponsor, its 2013 rules and regs were not available at the Dirt Bike Show, and as we go to press they are still not available on its website, (only 2012 details), and the ACU only announced prize money at the show after the MCF series announcement. 

 

I'm not knocking the ACU, I am simply stating the facts. 

 

My understanding is also that a good number of leading quad riders have already committed to the MCF series, but it's early days and of course talk is cheap.  

 

At the Dirt Bike Show, the MCF's Roy Barton told me: "It's in no-one's interest to have a clash of dates and we will do our best to work around it. 

 

"The only date that we cannot alter is the July 28 meeting at Matterley Basin, as that is the only date available at that track. 

 

"The others we will look at. The ACU were seemingly less flexible or willing to negotiate. 

 

"They will have to change their dates,” I was told.

 

The 2013 ATV's Only MCF British Quadcross Championship will run as part of a new QMS, (Quad, Motocross, Sidecars), Nationals series organised by CMR Events. 

 

The QRA's Tony Nash will be on board to look after the quad side of things and will be the event liaison with the riders.

 

"Having organised our QRA events with the MCF over the past three years, I am excited that the Federation has embraced our sport and is sanctioning this fresh, rider focused British QX Championship for 2013 and beyond,” explained Tony. 

 

"We have a great team of people all pulling together from each discipline to produce an equal championship for the riders and our sport, be they on two, three or four wheels.”

 

The MCF series will be run over four rounds for the sidecars and the solos with one extra round being included for the quads. 

 

Discussions are apparently underway with circuits and these will be released as soon as they are finalised. 

 

The series website will also be launched ‘very shortly' when all the information is available.

 

So at this early stage the MCF appears to be taking an early lead in terms of presentation and ‘saying the right thing'. 

 

The ACU on the other hand appears to have been caught on the hop and needs to come back with a tempting plan, a firm route forwards and perhaps just a hint of humility and spirit of 

co-operation in the best interests of the sport. 

 

And would any of those insanely optimistic observers win any money by betting on that happening I wonder?