Alive and kicking!
By TMX Archives on 9th Feb 04
MAJOR-LEAGUE British MX emerges kicking and screaming from its enforced winter hibernation with two big meetings over successive weekends.Ken Winstanley's back for the third year running with his KWS International MX series that kicks MAJOR-LEAGUE British MX emerges kicking and screaming from its enforced winter hibernation with two big meetings over successive weekends.Ken Winstanley's back for the third year running with his KWS International MX series that kicks off at Matchams Park, near Ringwood, Hants, on February 28/29.Among the top-flight men who'll be in action are RWJ Honda duo Jamie Dobb and James Noble plus Stuart Flockhart, Glen Phillips and former schoolie sensation Adam Chatfield. And there's even some chancer called Anthony Sutton who's entered in the Pro 125cc class!A week later and the MX world's focus will fall on Hawkstone Park in Shropshire on March 7 where the Salop club is running its annual big international meeting. All three '03 world champs - Steve Ramon, Stefan Everts and Joel Smets - have signed up for what should provide the first real indication of form for '04.Ramon's chosen to race in the Open class at Hawkstone but his presence shouldn't be badly missed in a MX2 class that boasts a mixture of British and international talent including Tyla Rattray, Patrick Caps, Jussi Vehvilainen, Stephen Sword, Andrew McFarlane and Carl Nunn as well as ex-world champs Dobby and Mickael Maschio.Heading the Open class entry are Everts and Smets with the likes of Cedric Melotte, Kenneth Gundersen, Josh Coppins, Paul Cooper and Gordon Crockard all looking to claim a few early-season scalps.The seven-race programme gets out of the gate at 11.45am but earlybirds will be able to check out the qualifying sessions - starting at 9am with the MX2 class - and there's even a freestyle show to add to the carnival atmosphere.