Lyng MXGB Preview: Jeffrey Herlings and spectators return to British motocross
By Team TMX on 21st May 21
British Motocross Championship Lyng Jeffrey Herlings Ben Watson
A smattering of overseas stars including Jeffrey Herlings will join the UKs top riders this Sunday (May 23) at Lyng in Norfolk for round two of the 2021 Revo ACU British Motocross Championship fuelled by Gulf Race Fuels.
When it comes to flowing, natural motocross tracks, they dont get much more bad-ass than Cadders Hill, and with the return of spectators for the first time since Landrake in 2019, this is going to be one to relish.
The demanding sandy circuit overlooking the village of Lyng always cuts up rough and is guaranteed to provide one of the toughest tests of rider fitness on the 2021 calendar.
The big 450cc winner at the opening round at Culham at the start of the month was rushing Russian Evgeny Bobryshev (PAR Homes Husqvarna) who came away with a maximum points haul. On his last visit to Lyng, two second-place finishes were good enough to clinch the 2018 MX1 title to add to the crown he won in 2010.
Sadly, Bobby is carrying an injury (broken shoulder blade) and is planning to try and collect as many points as possible as he rides through the pain.
A combination of factors means Herlings will make his return to racing at Lyng after eight months away from gate drops. Despite this being his first race back, surely the four-time world champion will line up as the favourite in MX1.
The 3,000 plus fans lucky enough to bag tickets to Cadders Hill will certainly appreciate the sand master ripping it up on this old-school track.
Herlings isn't the only MXGP star on the line. Britain's Ben Watson will make only his second competitive outing on his factory YZ450F (first time in the UK!).
Although tipped by the great Tony Cairoli as one to watch in 2021, Watson will surely want to use this as another chance to step up his GP preparation. At this point, at least, he has nothing to prove.
Leading the chasing pack is 2019 champion Tommy Searle (Crendon Fastrack Honda), who ran 3-2 at Culham to take second on a tie-break from exciting young Kiwi Dylan Walsh (REVO Seven Kawasaki).
At 31 years old Searle is now one of the class veterans, but his hard-won experience is another weapon in his arsenal, and he has to be considered a serious threat across the whole series. He took both wins at Lyng in 2018 and also claimed the overall there in 2019, so its a track we know he goes well on.
Walsh the 2019 MX2 champion also likes Lyng. He made his championship debut there as a wild card in 2018 when he won the opening moto and is continuing to adapt well to the extra power of a 450.
Okay, so we trot out the same line every year, but there really is a huge depth of talent in the 450 class this season. Riders of the calibre of Adam Sterry (Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee), Harri Kullas (Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha), Elliott Banks-Browne (Oakleaf 44 Honda) and Jake Millward (Verde Substance KTM) are all more than capable of sticking it on the box.
Then theres Shaun Simpson (SS24 KTM). The GP winner and multi-time British champion had a disappointing day at Culham with 4-13 finishes that restricted him to seventh overall, but the Scot is a class act and capable of much, much more.
The last time the championship was run in 2019, Conrad Mewse (Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee) was unable to properly defend his 2018 MX2 title because of injury, but he was back on top at Culham with his 1-2, giving him the edge over the 3-1 finishes of Wilson Todd (Bike It MTX Kawasaki).
If Mewse can stay fit all season, then hes got to be favourite for the title.
One man who would have been pushing him hard on Sunday is Steve Dixons Aussie, Wilson Todd, who missed a big slice of last years MXGP series through injury. However, he elected to have arm pump surgery just days ago, and we understand that Lyng will come too soon for the promising young 'un.
Other riders to watch out for include Scotlands John Adamson (Gabriel KTM), whos dropped down from MX1 for 2021 and claimed a career-best third overall at Culham, Taylor Hammal (Bike It MTX Kawasaki) and Ashton Dickinson (Templant Multitek KTM).
Lyng will also feature championship action from the BW85, WMX and MXY2 classes. The Cadders Hill circuit will be signposted from the A1067 and A47 and the postcode is NR9 5QZ.
It's a sell-out! If you haven't already got tickets, it's unfortunately too late now. The club has now reconciled the sales and it will not be possible to make any tickets available at the gate on Sunday.
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