About turn
By TMX Archives on 14th Aug 03
face of growing pressure from European bike importers, the ACU have made a surprise about-turn over their plans to restrict the British MX championship Open class to an upper limit of 450cc.In a press release issued in July, the ACU IN THE face of growing pressure from European bike importers, the ACU have made a surprise about-turn over their plans to restrict the British MX championship Open class to an upper limit of 450cc.In a press release issued in July, the ACU MX committee announced plans to replace the Open division in '04 with an MXGB class to run with the same capacity restrictions as the MXGP class - limited to 250 two-strokes and 450 four-strokes.'This was agreed,' stated the press release, 'after full discussion with manufacturers, teams and privateers. The considerable cost of big-bore kits and subsequent high maintenance costs being one of the main reasons for change.'But while the restriction may have gone down well with the Yamaha and Honda importers - neither of which market a production four-stroke MXer over 450cc - it was hardly received with open arms by importers of European machines.KTM, Husaberg, Husqvarna, TM, VOR and Vertemati all have a vested interest in big-bore thumpers and the importers were quick to register their objection with Rugby - especially as orders for next year's machines for the UK had already been placed."For the benefit of the sport it has to be the right decision," reckons KTM UK managing director Kevin Burk. "The Maxxis British championship is a real showcase series and it would be wrong if a number of machines were suddenly ineligible to compete in it."The 650 class will still maintain its world status in 2004, the only difference is that it will be held at different meetings to the 125 and MXGP races. This is similar to the days of the single-capacity GP events and the 'double headers' like we saw at Culham and Foxhill just a few years ago."I applaud the decision of the ACU to re-instate the current Open class format and also for looking to reflect the direction of the FIM - but I do wonder whether the changes proposed would have been tabled if the Japanese had a production 'Open class' bike in the true sense of the word."The plan has not been scrapped but will be put on hold for '04 before further discussions are held early next year with a view to finalising plans for the '05 season.