As the Apico 2-Stroke Festival featuring the Red Bull Pro Stroke National gears up for the eighth edition of its annual event at Sellindge, Kent, this weekend, the promoter Dave Willet gives thanks to long-standing partners.
Essex-based partners, namely Vicarage Marquees and Harris Hire Hockley, have been with the event since the start. Recognising that the Festival is going from strength-to-strength, with exciting new plans, they quickly threw their corporate hats into the Festival arena and, once again, have joined forces with Willet.
Said Willet; “The 2-Stroke Festival has been fortunate enough to have some amazing partners who have supported us throughout the years. Vicarage Marquees and Harris Hire Hockley have been with us since the beginning, and we are thrilled that they are committing to supporting the Festival again this year.
“Not only do Johnny and Emma Nichols provide us with top-quality marquees, but they are also hands-on in supporting and promoting the Festival. Their passion for 2-strokes is evident in everything they do, and we are grateful for their continued support.”
Gearing up for an action-packed weekend of racing, the ever-evolving Apico 2-Stroke Festival, featuring the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National, and the Fastest 40, returns to Sellindge in Kent this summer with a two-day celebration of motocross on the 17th and 18th of August.
The Festival will see young competitors in the 65cc and 85cc – big and small-wheel, scored separately – and 125cc classes competing for glory on the same professionally sculpted and challenging Kent track as the Pro riders race.
For the 2024 2-Stroke Festival, title partner Apico Factory Racing is offering a substantial £2500 Rider Support package across the 65cc, 85cc and both 125cc groups. Four individual riders will be selected and rewarded with a visit to the Apico Factory Racing HQ shortly after the Festival.
The recipients will not necessarily be those who win on track though. The riders will be observed and marked for their race craft, their on and off-track demeanor and general presentation. Both Apico, and the Festival promoter, hopes it will make a real difference in their on-going motocross journey.
In addition, Apico vouchers will be gifted throughout the classes to try and support as many young riders as possible to give everyone a chance to win something.
Commenting on the expansion of the youth programme, Apico 2-Stroke Festival promoter Dave Willet said; “We’re excited to again support the youth classes and give them the opportunity to race on the same track as some of their racing heroes like Tommy Searle, Joel Rizzi and Conrad Mewse. It isn’t an opportunity they get at every event.
“As the classes are suitable for all levels of rider, we feel it’s important to spread the prizes across the groups so that every rider who enters the Festival will be in with a chance of picking up an Apico voucher. For four very lucky riders, there is also the prospect of winning a £2500 Apico Factory Racing support package – this is enormous and will set them up for the following season and beyond. We’re very grateful to Apico for its generosity.”
The Apico 2-Stroke Festival youth classes are:
Youth 65cc (7-11 yrs)
Youth SW 85cc (9-12yrs)
Youth BW 85cc (11-14yrs)
A weekend race entry costs just £125.00. This includes overnight camping and admission for those travelling with riders.
The official ACU Apico 2-Stroke Festival British 125cc 2-Stroke Championship was extended earlier this year when the Festival collaborated with the Fastest 40 to increase the series to 8 rounds. Six rounds are with the Fastest 40 Championship, while rounds 6 and 7 will be a double header at the Apico 2-Stroke Festival, Sellindge later this month. After 5 rounds, Josh Vail leads the combined championship on 238 points ahead of Jamie Keith on 216 and Matt Bayliss on 172.
Press release – 2-STROKE FESTIVAL RELEASES SPECTATOR TICKETS FOR THE BIG WEEKEND OF RACE ACTION
The scene is set for plenty of intense, bar-bashing action at the upcoming Red Bull Pro Stroke National as it welcomes the Fastest 40 to join its ranks at Sellindge MX this August.
In a major boost for British motocross, the team behind the Red Bull Pro Stroke National has joined forces with the promoters of the Fastest 40 in a collaboration that will see the series’ Pro, Clubman and Amateur classes merge into one weekend of epic racing.
Red Bull Pro Stroke National Pro riders are competing for substantial prize money, while Fastest 40 members will score points for their respective championship classes.
All competitors, whether contesting the Red Bull Pro Stroke National, Fastest 40 or Apico 2-Stroke Festival, featuring rounds six and seven of the ACU Apico 2-Stroke Festival British 2-Stroke Championship, will be at the top of their game and are guaranteed to keep it pinned all the way to the chequered flag in their quest for big money, points and prizes. It’s set to be win, or bust, and it’ll be a spectacle like no other.
Three-day spectator passes are available at £16.75 per person. Children aged 12 and under gain free admission. This equates to just over £5.50 per person, per day for the most competitive weekend of motocross racing in the UK this summer. Weekend camping is also available for £22.25, a spectator pass will be required to access the track.
Families travelling in the same vehicle as a rider do not need a spectator or camping pass as that is covered within the rider entry fee.
Advance spectator tickets, which offer savings over buying on the gate, are available NOW!
The Red Bull Pro Stroke National is gearing up for a whole lot of bar-bashing fun at this year’s Apico 2-Stroke Festival with the return of the hugely-entertaining, and ever-popular Red Bull Clubman class.
Clubmen of all shapes, sizes and skills are invited to enter this exciting class at the Kent-based event. It’s a class that typifies the all-encompassing nature of the Festival which, this year, will be a three-day affair held over the weekend of the 16th to the 18th of August at Sellindge MX, Kent.
With extensive appeal across novice, vets and expert groups, the grass roots element of the Red Bull Clubman MX1 and MX2 races has always attracted riders of mixed abilities. It gives club/track day riders the chance to experience the professional style of racing at the Festival, and to soak up the atmosphere with friends, families and likeminded riders. Many of whom may never have actually raced but have used venues such as Sellindge as a practice track.
With a practice session, followed by four blocks of racing across Saturday and Sunday, the Red Bull Clubman riders will get a whole load of racing for their hard-earned bucks.
“It’s brilliant to see this class so well supported,” said Apico 2-Stroke Festival promoter Dave Willet. “It is so rewarding to see riders, who have only ever ridden in practice days, getting stuck in and having a go. MX1 and MX2 riders race together on track but are scored separately. Whether novice or experienced, they will all find their own level of racing and, hopefully, have a blast.”
Weekend entry fees are just £125.00 and entries are available HERE
Image: 2023 Red Bull Clubman start gate. Image credit: Adam Duckworth Photography.
The 2024 Apico 2-Stroke Festival, featuring the Red Bull Pro Stroke National, is on a roll, garnering support thick and fast as British motocross hits the height of the summer season.
The Apico 2-Stroke Festival will run over three days from the 16th to the 18th of August. The good news for the event is that its long-standing supporter, Thanet Waste, has renewed its partnership and, in keeping with the ethos of the Festival, will continue to promote sustainability and responsible waste management.
With the official ACU Apico 2-Stroke Festival British 125cc 2-Stroke Championship running six rounds in association with the Fastest 40 – three of which have already been completed – and two at the Festival in August, 2024 is already proving to be an exciting season for motocross fans.
“Thanet Waste Services has been a key partner of the Festival since its inception in 2017. Its commitment to environmentally-friendly practices aligns with our values at Sellindge MX,” explained event organiser, Dave Willet.
“We have worked tirelessly over the past seven years to make the Festival a premier motocross event in Kent, and it’s always a source of pride when partners return to the event.
“Most motocross tracks work alongside farmers, so the collaboration between Sellindge MX and Thanet Waste Services goes beyond a mere sponsorship. It is a shared vision of creating a greener and more sustainable event. In the past years, Thanet Waste Services has provided recycling facilities and waste management services during the Festival, ensuring that the event leaves minimal impact on the environment.”
The Red Bull Pro Stroke National returns to the Apico 2-Stroke Festival at Sellindge MX in Kent, on Sunday the 18th of August, with a significant cash prize pot that possibly represents the largest reward fund for a one-off motocross event in the UK.
The 2024 Apico 2-Stroke Festival, incorporating the Red Bull Pro Stroke National, will run for three days from Friday the 16th to Sunday the 18th of August. It is set to feature a full-on three days of competitive top-class motocross action, catering for youngsters on 85cc small-wheel bikes right the way through to the very best MX1 and MX2 Pro racers.
The Red Bull Pro Stroke National has provided action-packed racing thanks to the number of top riders attracted to the south-east based Festival, including the likes of reigning British MX1/MX Nationals MX1 Champ Conrad Mewse, multi-British MX Champion Tommy Searle, Apico’s Martin Barr, Dylan Walsh and Bradd Todd, to name but a few. Rapidly rising MX star Billy Askew jumped straight from the youth scene into MX2 last year and wowed the crowd by winning the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National MX2 in his first attempt.
Promoter Dave Willet said; “It’s very satisfying to give a return to the riders for their support and efforts. While it’s great to see the Pros entertain spectators over the years, it’s also rewarding for me to see young riders transitioning between the youth and Pro ranks.”
The incentives on offer for the nation’s MX1 and MX2 Red Bull Pro Stroke National competitors make this, yet again, a must-do summer-time motocross event where top-class racing mixes with a fun and relaxed family atmosphere.
Red Bull backs a wide range of athletes around the world and views ground-breaking events such as the Festival as a clear pathway for young talent to shine.
With the best MX1 and MX2 riders battling for glory and putting on a display of action-packed races, the 2024 Red Bull Pro Stroke National is set to be the best yet.
Gearing up for an action-packed weekend of racing, the ever-evolving Apico 2-Stroke Festival, featuring the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National, returns to Sellindge in Kent this summer with a three-day celebration of motocross from the 16th to the 18th of August.
A key element of the weekend is the classic Red Bull Noughties class, which runs on both Saturday and Sunday. It’s a unique class of hard-working riders and machines delivering the sound of 2-stroke motocross machines from the glory years of 2000-2008 for riders aged 25-years and over.
In 2023, Charlie Nudds was the class’s clear winner, but many others will be eyeing the prize this year.
The sound, the smell, the vibe … the Red Bull Noughties offers an intoxicating cocktail that mixes old-school 2-stroke racing with modern-day technology, and fun.
According to Apico 2-Stroke Festival promoter Dave Willet; “These machines are something special – a real blast from the past. If you own a machine from this era, you’ll love this class! Entries are filling quickly, so I urge riders to sign up and experience what the Red Bull Noughties is all about.”
MX Team GB Junior World team manager Dave Willet, the driving force behind the Apico 2-Stroke Festival featuring the Red Bull Pro Stroke National, has got together with his Team GB co-organisers to put on another couple of youth motocross training days; one in the UK and one in Holland.
Following on from the successful outing at Doncaster Moto Parc in April, the second Team GB Junior World training day will be held at FatCat Moto Parc on the next bank holiday, Monday the 6th of May.
This presents a perfect opportunity for riders and their families to enjoy a full-on weekend of both competitive and fun motocross activity, as the practice day follows a weekend of racing at FatCat, with rounds of the 90 Racing MX Club Championship, and Dirt Store British Youth Motocross Championship qualifying rounds.
The day at FatCat will be swiftly followed by the chance to ride and train on the very circuit that will host the 2024 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship. On Thursday the 23rd of May, immediately prior to the Whitsun bank holiday weekend, Willet has privately hired the Circuit Kamperweg Heerde in the Netherlands for an afternoon training session and is opening it up to UK youth riders.
Heerde is a superbly professional and permanent facility in the centre of Holland, which will also be open to the public on the Wednesday before the Team GB Junior World track day.
Commenting on the upcoming initiatives, Willet explained; “With the UK youth motocross season starting so much later this year, there are only a limited number of opportunities for our youth riders to get some proper bike time.
“We hope that, by offering riding time at the popular FatCat Moto Parc and the world-class Heerde venues, youth riders can benefit by honing their skills on two very different tracks and take advantage of training alongside their peers. What’s more, with the selection process for the Junior Motocross World Championship looming, the Team GB talent scouts will also have time to monitor the riders’ progress.”
Both training days at FatCat and Heerde are open to 65cc, 85cc, and 125cc youth riders. They will be attended by leading youth coaches Glen Phillips, Ashley Wilde and Lee Dunham who will, as always, be ready to help out and share a hot tip or two.
Gearing up for an action-packed weekend of racing, the ever-evolving Apico 2-Stroke Festival, featuring the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National, returns to Sellindge in Kent this summer with a three-day celebration of motocross from the 16th to the 18th of August.
Entries are now open for the 2024 edition of the Festival, which is set to deliver a programme of high-adrenaline entertainment from the Friday, when the finely-sculpted and challenging track opens up to youth riders on 50cc, 65cc and 85cc machines, right through to close of play on the Sunday after all adult class riders have had their fun.
In addition to the flat-out racing on the main track, the second track at Sellindge MX will be turned over for a spot of something different, with races for wanna-be Pros from the age of just three years on balance bikes, and bar-bashing pit bike racing for adult riders. Elsewhere, there’ll be an interactive village set up offering tryout sessions for novice riders of all ages, enabling them to get a taste of the joys of motocross.
A welcome fixture on the UK’s MX race calendar since 2017, the Apico 2-Stroke Festival runs in association with the ACU to grant full British Championship status for its 2-Stroke 125, Open, Evo and Super Evo classes. In addition, youth classes catering for 125, 250F, BW and SW85s as well as Over-40s open 2-stroke will take place.
Festival promoter Dave Willet, together with Dylan Brown, the owner of main sponsor Apico Factory Racing, have agreed a multi-thousand-pound prize fund/product deal which will deliver a host of winning opportunities to riders across the full breadth of classes.
Red Bull is once more supporting the Festival with support over the weekend for the Red Bull Pro Stroke National Clubman MX1/MX2 and Red Bull Noughties. Then, on Sunday, the Pros roll out for the Red Bull Pro-Stroke National with classes for Pro/Expert MX1 and MX2.
Race schedule:
Friday/Saturday:
Youth 65 (7-11 yrs)
Youth 50 (6-8yrs)
Youth Sw 85 (9-12yrs)
Youth Bw 85 (11-14yrs)
Saturday/ Sunday:
ACU British 125 two-stroke
ACU British Open two-stroke
ACU British Evo two-stroke
ACU British Super Evo two-stroke
Red Bull Pro Stroke National Clubman MX1
Red Bull Pro Stroke National Clubman MX2
Red Bull Noughties (age 25 + machine year (2000/2008)
Over 40s Open 2- stroke
Youth 125
Youth 250F
E2 (4-5yrs)
E3 (4-6yrs)
E5 (6-8yrs)
Electric Balance Bike 16” (3-5yrs)
Electric Balance Bike 12” (3-4yrs)
Farm Bike/Pit Bikes (Adults)
Sunday only:
Red Bull Pro Stroke National MX1/MX2
“Be sure to mark your calendars,” said Festival promoter Dave Willet. “And join us for a weekend full of high-speed thrills and festival fun. This year’s event will herald the start of something big in 2025, which I can promise will be a game changer. Watch this space!”
