Stars of the bike world to race the final Apico 2-Stroke Festival round at Sellindge MX

Apico 2-Stroke Festival organiser, Dave Willet is pulling out all the stops to ensure that the final round of this years festival – which will be held at the recently revamped Sellindge MX circuit in Kent over the weekend of August 31/September 1 – will be one to remember.

The latest top rider to sign up for the event is world championship-level off-road all-rounder – and two-stroke fan, obviously – Nathan Watson who tried out the track at a recent Red Bull ride day and knew there and then that he’d be back to compete against the UK’s best two-stroke pilots on race weekend. His WESS buddy Billy Bolt will also be lining up alongside motorcycling legends like MotoGP star Bradley Smith and well-known motocrossers Mark Eastwood, David Campbell and the unstoppable Brian Wheeler.

As well as classes for modern day 125cc and 250cc/Open smokers, owners of Evo and Super Evo machines are catered for too and then there are the three kids’ classes which are open to Auto, 65 and 85cc competitors. With the event being held over the last weekend before most schools open up their doors again for the autumn term, the festival is the ideal way to spend a final, family summer-holiday weekend in the idyllic Kent countryside before the mundane Monday-to-Friday grind kicks in once more.

Entry fees for the ACU affiliated weekend are set at £50 for the weekend for registered riders across all classes with day licences and transponder hire available to anyone who needs it at an extra £10. Non-registered riders are £100.00 for the weekend. Autos, 65cc and 85cc riders are £90.00 for the weekend. 
So don’t delay, get yourself booked in today. 

Register riders go here – https://www.goracemx.com/event.php?eid=1644&fbclid=IwAR2BQA6V3YG_Q07uS-q653DuasDOynvg6KB-Zx_n2nOEGexk9HHAicK-K38#_ 

While series newbies need to head here – https://www.acu.org.uk/events/August-2019/X-Bladez-Events/MOTOCROSS-Beachcross/Sellindge-MX-Track-ACU57399.aspx

For more information about the Apico Two-Stroke Festival please check out the series’ official website www.2strokefestival.com.

All go for Youth riders at Apico 2-Stroke Festival round 2

Thanks to its opening round success, whereby it extended its youth classes to include Auto and 65cc, the Apico Two-Stroke Festival will continue to cater for the youngest members of the motocross racing fraternity at its upcoming second and third rounds of the 2019 series.

Next up is the round at Iron Works Moto Park, Redcar over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of August. The Festival will run classes suitable for riders aged from six year, through all age groups, right up to those for whom ‘age is just a number’ … which makes it a great event for the families who have premix-loving racers across multiple generations, as they’ll all be welcomed. 

All youth riders will be presented with a trophy at Iron Works, and series sponsor Apico is again offering an incredible opportunity to one lucky rider in the 85cc class, with an Apico Factory Racing sponsorship package for 2020 to the tune of £5000. If rider support continues to grow for the Auto and 65cc groups, the promoter has outlined that a similar incentive could be made available to cover these sectors too. 

Sam Atkinson was the rider to catch in the BW85 class at the opening round at Sellindge, Kent.  He took five wins from hard-chasing Ben Pratt in second and Ezra Blackwell in third. Jaygo Beasty rode consistently throughout the weekend, and Daniel Wood and Charlie Piddock completed the top six. Round 1 podium finishers in the SW85 class were Kyron Carron in the top spot, Ryan Waggot in second and Charlie Hucklebridge third. But, not far behind were Seth Hughes, Hannah Smye and Harry Challis. 

The 65cc race pack didn’t let up for a single second. Archy Atkinson and Austin Beasty impressed the crowd with their race skills, which took them to the top two steps of the podium, with Marley Ray Tupper in third. Harason Baum finished fourth and Lawson Peedle fifth. Finally, the pocket rocket Autos kept the racing scarily-quick and fresh. Tyler Rogers and Charlie Crampton shared race wins with Rogers finishing just five points ahead of Crampton after five tough handlebar-bashing races. Henry Lewis finished a respectable third, with Sonny Bixby running a solid race to take fourth overall, in front of Sam Verbeeten and William Brown.

Entries are now live now – details of how to enter are HERE

British 2-Stroke championship saved by Apico 2-Stroke Festival

Following the unfortunate announcement regarding the British 2-Stroke Championship last weekend the ACU are pleased to confirm the ACU British Open 2-Stroke championship will now be run as part of the Apico 2-Stroke Festival series for 2019.

After the prestigious six-round series was dropped from the Maxxis British championship schedule due to lack of entries this month, the Apico 2-Stroke Festival has stepped in to keep the championship alive. The open-class British 2-Stroke championship will be incorporated into the six-race Festival alongside separate 125, Evo and Super Evo British titles.

ACU Motocross Chairman Steve McCauley, “Following the enforced cancellation of the Championship from the Maxxis series due to the very low number of riders who registered for the series we were left with a few unanswered questions and the remains of what had been an incredibly popular and successful series. I was in absolutely no doubt that there was still a potential to continue the success of the previous two seasons and to find a new home for this extremely prestigious title and give something back to the riders who supported the class.”

“The perfect place for this appeared to be the new ACU Apico 2-Stroke Festival which fits the mould perfectly and provides both a fun and professional environment for British Open 2-Stroke Championship to grow. For this reason, the Motocross Committee entered into discussion with Dave Willet and I am totally delighted to have reached a successful agreement which will see the series which we started with such aplomb carry on indefinitely”

Apico 2-Stroke Festival organiser Dave Willet said: “This is a massive boost for the series and all involved. The concept of the 2-Stroke Festival was to deliver not only a boost for grassroots riders but also bring on youth in the sport, to help their progression and development. Adding on not one but four British titles is the icing on the cake.”

“By adding this adult British title to the series, it ups the profile of the championship even more. This is great for 2- stroke riders because they can approach potential sponsors off the back of being a potential British champion. And of course, the festival’s level of promotion is second to none.”

The Apico 2-Stroke Festival schedule is:
May 25-26                           Marshfield, Wiltshire.
August 3-4                          Ironworks, Middlesborough
September 21-22             Sellindge, Kent.

Enter round 1 here https://www.acu.org.uk/events/May-2019/X-Bladez-Events/MOTOCROSS-Beachcross/Marshfield-Chippenham-SN14-8JG-ACU56571.aspx

Registration is now open and will close on April 24th 2019.
The Registration fee of £75 secures you a place at every round, and the cost is £95 per round for Registered riders.

Apico 2 Stroke Festival Joins the ACU for 2019

Following recent negotiations, the ACU are pleased to confirm that the Apico 2 Stroke Festival will be joining the ACU for 2019 and beyond.

The Apico 2 Stroke Festival is the brain child of 2 Stroke enthusiast Dave Willet and after just a couple of years carving out a niche as the UK’s top race meetings for lovers of 2-stroke machines has grown to a 3-round series for the 2019 season. The 2019 season will see the championship continue to grow in stature as the ideal environment for relaxed but professionally run 2 stroke events.

In conjunction with the 2 Stroke Festival becoming an ACU sanctioned championship, it will also be hosting the All New Apico 2 Stroke ACU British 125cc Adult Championship along with resurrecting the British Evo and Super Evo Championships.

These classes will be run as part of the Apico 2-Stroke Festival which will retain its regular classes for modern bikes and youths on 85s. This is a huge step forward for an event which has already been a huge hit, attracting riders from youths to veterans, clubmen to top professionals like EMX300 champion Brad Anderson.

The dates for the 2019 season are as follows:
May 25th and 26th – Marshfield MX, Wiltshire
August 3rd and 4th – Iron Works Moto Parc, Middlesborough
September 21st and 22nd – Sellindge MX, Kent

The move to the ACU will also allow riders of the Apico 2 Stroke Festival to the progress into the Maxxis ACU British 2 Stroke Championship and European Championship events in the future.

“The event has grown into something very special,” says organiser Dave Willet, former British 125 and 250 2-stroke champion. “We pride ourselves on the classic, old-school style of grass roots racing, with tracks chosen to reflect our ethos of ‘racing for all’. We aim to continue giving riders what they deserve – well-prepared tracks suitable for all bikes and abilities, a fun-fill filled weekend and even support for their racing with the brands involved in the series.”

Dave Willet and team ACU

In 2018, one rider won a £5000 sponsorship package from Apico, and many others won prizes ranging from Arai helmets to complete oil packages. And adults walked off with prize money in many classes. The lucky recipient of the sponsorship package was 85 class winner Jack Grayshon.

“With the announcement the Apico 2-Stroke Festival is backed by the UK’s governing body of motorcycle sport, the ACU, and the inclusion of three national British championship classes, 2019 is set to be a great year for all involved” says Dave Willet. “Racing 2-strokes is here to stay, and it’s cost-effective fun for all riders from clubmen and youth to and professionals. The fun of racing is backAll-Newand it’s 2-stroke.”

Classes for 2019 are:

  • ACU British Adult 125
  • ACU British Evo
  • ACU British Super Evo
  • 85cc Youth Supermini SW/BW
  • 125cc Rookie class
  • 125cc Fast (Intermediate/Novice)
  • 250cc Fast (Intermediate/Novice)
  • 250cc Faster (Expert)

Registration is open and will close on April 24th 2019. It will be open for day entries at the Marshfield opener. The Registration fee of £75 secures you a place at every round, and the cost is £95 per round for Registered riders. All riders must be ACU affiliated, and transponders can be hired on the day.

Registration for the 2019 Apico 2-Stroke Festival is now open. HIT the link to enter ⬇️ ➡️ HERE ⬅️

Three festivals for 2018!

The adage ‘success breeds success’ could have been penned for the Apico 2-Stroke Festival as, following its inaugural outing last year, the organisers have decided to go out on a limb and run an additional two events in 2018.

The hunger for grass-roots racing is at an all-time high. Two-stroke devotees have voiced their collective demands, and former British Two-Stroke champ Dave Willet has listened. The hugely popular inaugural 2-Stroke festival, held last year in Kent will, for 2018, be a three-round championship covering the north, west and south of the UK. Priding itself on the classic ‘old-school’ style of racing, the organiser has gone to great lengths to ensure the chosen tracks reflect on its ethos of ‘racing for all’.

The 2018 British Two-Stroke series will kick off over the weekend of the 16th and 17th of June at Marshfield motocross track in Chippenham, Wiltshire. This track, according to Willet, is a popular one thanks to its natural layout and tacky terrain.

The second leg will see the series travel north to the ‘Iron Works’ in Middlesbrough which is a new circuit for 2018. Jonny Douglas Hamilton has been drafted in to sculpt the track to perfection, ready for the arrival of the festival on the 7th and 8th of July.

Then finally, the British Two-Stroke Tour makes a welcome return to its birth place; Sellindge in Kent. This highly-rated track is a racer’s dream; natural flowing, softy undulating, quick-to-dry, great viewing, fantastic facilities; in short, save the date – 4th and 5th August 2018!

Sellindge is great for old and new bikes

Said Apico 2-Stroke Festival organiser Dave Willet; “I couldn’t have asked for anything better than the response we had from our first-ever event last year. There is no better feeling than seeing a field full of riders of all abilities and ages re-igniting and sharing their passion in a competitive environment.

We made the decision to grow this into three areas of the UK this year due to rider demand. I’m really happy with the tracks selected because it’s important for me to get the balance right. We have something for everyone; Pro, Beginners, Evo and Modern. I feel we’ve ticked all the boxes have every confidence that with the support of so many, we can make this revival work!”

Registered riders save around £25 if they intend on doing all three rounds. Registration will close on May 1 and then it will be open for day entries at Marshfield. A £50 Registration – secures your place, and the cost is £95 per round for registered riders. Non-registered riders pay £120 per round. Non-MCF license holders will have to pay £15 for two days licence, and if you don’t have your own transponder it’s £10 hire for two days.

Apico 2-Stroke Festival Track Work Starts!

The diggers moved into the old-school Sellindge track in Kent this weekend as preparations start for the Apico 2-Stroke Festival on August 5-6. First to go in is a bit of irrigation to make sure the track gets well watered. Then mods to the Kent-based circuit itself start! Check out Peek Drone‘s footage of Dave Willet riding his smoker around the track to give you an idea of the circuit in its current state.

Entries are filling up fast for the event. Check out all the details on the official Apico 2-Stroke Festival web site and get entering right now!