Apico 2-Stroke rings the changes

Admin 22nd June 2023

The Apico 2-Stroke Festival, featuring the Red Bull Pro Stroke National is ringing the changes for 2023 with a substantially increased cash and product prize fund, more racing for club standard riders, unique ‘glory day’ classes and increased exposure for youth riders.

The organising club aims to offer something to all levels of motocross rider at its two-day event to be held over the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd of July at Sellindge in Kent. It already has a great track record of being popular with riders of all ages and abilities and intends to improve on that this year.

For the grass-roots rider, there are MX1 and MX2 Clubman Open groups, which could encourage those regular track day riders to get stuck in and have a go at racing within the same programme as national and international Pro level racers.

Then there’s the Red Bull Noughties, which forms an exciting part of the Apico 2-Stroke Festival, delivering a unique class of 2-stroke motocross machines from the glory years of 2000-2008. These machines are something special – a real blast from the past. Anyone owning a machine from this era will love this class, where banging old-school 2-stroke racing meets modern-day technology.

The Apico Over 40s Open 2-Stroke is another class that is all about having fun, rather than flat-out speed. Plus, there’ll be spot prizes allocated across all groups. Whether the rider is out front, in the middle, or towards the back of the pack – all competitors will be in with a chance of being rewarded.

Two lucky riders contesting the Youth groups will have the chance to become Leatt-supported riders and scoop a prize with a value of £2,500. And, if there is enough interest and entries booked in the 85cc sector, the small and big wheel classes will run separately, giving the younger riders the chance to shine on track.

Finally, when the big guns roll out, the riders seeking victory in the Red Bull Pro Stroke Nationals on the second day of the Festival weekend, have an even greater incentive to get on the leaderboard, as promoter Dave Willet has doubled the prize fund with a £12,000.00 pot of cash up for grabs across both MX1 and MX2 classes. A meaty £800 per race – two per class/per day – will be available to the winner. with prize money paid down to £100 per race for 10th.

Allowing all riders to be part of the Festival has been an important element of the event for organiser Willet; “We want everyone to race safe and feel comfortable while doing so. We feel that, with our range of classes, we’re catering for all and believe we are setting the scene for some great racing. What’s more, with the latest development for the Red Bull Pro Stroke Nationals, we believe we’re providing the biggest prize fund for a single one-day motocross competition in the UK. That’s progress!”

Entries are available via a link on the Apico 2-Stroke Festival website. Classes are filling up quickly, with some close to capacity.

Classes – Saturday and 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

Youth BW/SW85

Sunday only:

Red Bull Pro Stroke National MX1/MX2

ENTER HERE from just £62.50.

Youth MX receives £5K Leatt boost

Admin 22nd June 2023

Leatt invests in Apico 2-Stroke Festival Youth classes.

 

The Apico 2-Stroke Festival, featuring the Red Bull Pro Stroke National, is picking up speed as it approaches the seventh running of the annual two-day race event.

Top riders from motocross and road racing have already confirmed their participation, an industry-leading prize fund has been announced and giants, such as Leatt, from the accessories, clothing and aftermarket sectors have pledged their support.

The Festival will take place over the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd of July at Sellindge in Kent, where two lucky riders competing in the 85cc and 125cc Apico Youth classes will be selected to become Leatt-supported athletes.

Each winner will receive Leatt kit with a retail value of £2,500. The products, which will include a Leatt helmet, goggles, race kit and boots, are guaranteed to be delivered to the Apico 2-Stroke Festival Leatt Youth Athlete within four weeks after the event.

The judges will not be looking for those competitors who simply win on the track. They will consider a number of factors before awarding this considerable prize, such as how the young racers conduct themselves off the racetrack, how they represent themselves, their team and families, their respect for fellow competitors and officials, their care for their machine, etc. In short, the riders selected will portray the very best of UK youth motocross.

“This is the sixth year we have had the privilege of working with Leatt to find the best youth ambassadors for the sport,” said the Festival’s promoter, Dave Willet. “We’re looking for those riders who are, dare I say, the all-round package. Yes, of course, we all want to be at the front of the field and winning races, but these Leatt Ambassadors will be more than that. We’ll be looking at their social skills as well as their racecraft.

“We’re encouraging all riders to get their entries in now and start posting their 2-Stroke Festival thoughts and ambitions. We can then help to raise their individual profiles by sharing their relevant social posts, and we’ll also feature them on our social channels.”

The Apico Youth classes cover;

Youth BW85

Youth SW85

Youth 125

CLICK HERE to enter from just £62.50. 

Pictured: Youth MX riders will get a Leatt boost at the Apico 2-Stroke Festival.

Re-live the glory days and sign up for Red Bull Noughties

Admin 15th June 2023

The Red Bull Noughties forms an exciting part of the Apico 2-Stroke Festival delivering a unique class of 2-stroke motocross machines from the glory years of 2000-2008.

These machines are something special – a real blast from the past. If you own a machine from this era you’ll love this class and entries are OPEN!

The sound, the smell, the vibe .. the Red Bull Naughties offers an intoxicating cocktail that mixes banging old-school 2-stroke racing with modern-day technology, and fun!!

Sign up for this unique 2-Stroke Festival class and experience what the Red Bull Noughties is all about.

Apico 2-Stroke Festival ups the stakes with sizeable prize fund!

Admin 15th June 2023

The Apico 2-Stroke Festival, which also features the Red Bull Pro-Stroke Nationals, heads to the south east this July with arguably the largest reward fund for a one-off motocross event in the UK.

Running over the weekend of Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd July, the event at Sellindge, Kent is gearing up for a full-on two days of top-class motocross action.

As the name suggests, there’ll be a host of racing for two-stroke riders of all ages, abilities and bikes, including full ACU British two-stroke championship titles in the 125, Open and Evo/Super Evo classes. This is the heart of the racing at the Apico 2-Stroke Festival, where top riders mix it with clubmen, amateurs and youths.

On Sunday the intensity increases when the Red Bull Pro Stroke Nationals gets underway, giving riders the choice to race two-stroke or four-stroke bikes, and is already pulling in the UK’s leading motocross protagonists. Both reigning British MX1 and MX2 champions Tommy Searle and Conrad Mewse, together with Mel Pocock and other top British Championship contenders have signed for what is quickly becoming one of the UK’s biggest stand-alone motocross events. Both champs contested the event last year; Searle emerged victorious, with Mewse runner-up.

Upping the stakes and potentially making the event even more attractive to riders yet to sign up, a substantial prize fund has been confirmed with a total of £15,000 available to competitors across all classes. Meanwhile, product and brand spot prizes further increase the rewards pot with high-value goods on offer to the tune of £6,000.

On the Youth side of things, classes will cater for 250F, 125 and 85s. The 85cc classes in particular are seeing strong line ups and if the interest continues with early entries confirmed, the Festival’s organiser Dave Willet has confirmed he will run separate classes for big-wheel and small-wheel 85s thereby giving riders in each class the chance to be out front on track in their respective classes.

Elsewhere there’ll be an Electric Zone with a range of environmentally-friendly youth and adult bikes on display with a selection available to try out. Also on the have-a-go front, Traxxas, the fastest name in ready-to-Race nitro and electric radio controlled vehicles, will have products on display and available for Festival-goers to try out.

Classes – Saturday and 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 250F

Youth 125

Youth BW/SW85

Sunday only:

Red Bull Pro Stroke National MX1/MX2 On-line booking is now available for all classes via the booking link HERE!

British Champs sign for Red Bull Pro Stroke Nationals

Admin 15th June 2023

The Red Bull Pro Stroke Nationals has signed both reigning British MX1 and MX2 champions Tommy Searle and Conrad Mewse, for the south east’s leading motocross event at Kent this July.

The announcement, fittingly made ahead of the Coronation weekend when the whole country will celebrate the ‘best of British’, confirms the importance the UK’s top pro riders place on the two-day ACU Apico 2-Stroke Festival. Both riders contested the event in 2022 and finished as Champion and Vice-Champion. With the battle lines drawn, and Searle hailing from Kent, the racing at the Sellindge track on Sunday the 23rd of July is set to go down to the wire.

There will be spot prizes across all classes and, thanks to additional support from title partner Apico, the prize fund is set to be substantial, adding even more value to the hugely-popular mid-summer race fest.

On-line booking is now available for all classes which cater for a wide range of rider and machine abilities.

Saturday and 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

Youth BW/SW85

Sunday only:

Red Bull Pro Stroke National MX1/MX2

CLICK HERE for Rider Entries!

 

Pictured: #100 Tommy Searle.

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

Admin 15th January 2019 225 Comments

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

Admin 7th January 2019 1,866 Comments

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!

Admin 1st March 2018 1,669 Comments

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!

Admin 15th July 2017 1,859 Comments

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!