Arenacross: Top Step Tommy

The final round of the Arenacross British Championship came to the iconic Wembley arena last weekend. A sell out crowd of over 10,000 people at the venue to find out who would be crowned British Champion for the 2023 season.

Following on from the Birmingham round 2 weeks previous, there was just 2 points between the MX1 British Champion Tommy Searle and current MX2 British champion Conrad Mewse. This could only mean one thing, they both would have to leave it all on the line.

Tommy started the best way possible way by topping both the fastest lap in timed qualification and winning both his heat races. This gave Tommy an extra 2 extra valuable points and now a 4 point lead going into the evenings main event.

Conrad was only able to achieve a 4-3 in his heat races but if we have learnt anything from the previous events, Conrad only gets stronger as the night goes on. It was all still to play for.

The head to heads lived up to there reputation with the best of all battles between Elliott Banks-Brown and Mel Pocock. They have raced each other for many years and have lots of respect for each other, This being said they left it all on the track. A close lap and a half resulted in both riders crashing on the final corner of the final lap. After a little camaraderie it was EBB who progresses to the main event. Pocock would eventually win the Last Chance Quali and also progress to the evenings main event.

A really great spectacle for the fans unfolded before the evenings events. This would include tentertainment in the form of the brilliant freestyle motocross rider performing back flips and other unbelievable tricks. Fire girls then warmed the arena up with different types of pyro-technics, dancing and performing fire spinning skills.

It was now time for the main event and the race for the championship. As the gate dropped it was Searle who like he has an all series who shot out the gate. This time though it was the arenacross specialist Jack Brunell who took the early lead of the race. Mewse was buried back in 6^th or 7^th with lots of work to do if he wanted to contend for the title.

Brunell showed why he was one of the best at these events holding off Seale for a good 7-8 laps. Why these 2 were going bar to bar Mewse had put the hammer down and pipped off riders lap after lap and made his was into 3^rd place. The crowd could really sense the tension in the arena with most people watching the last quarter of the race on there feet. Mewse then managed to pass Brunell and locked on to Tommy knowing he had to win the event for any chance of the title.

The battle was now on, Tommy and Conrad its what everyone wanted to see. As Meswe put the pass on the Tommy the stadium erupted. Tommy being a clever rider with lots of experience did not need to put up too much of a fight as he knew 2^nd behind Conrad would gift him the title. As the chequered flag was shown it was Conrad Mewse who took the main event win followed by Tommy Searle 2nd and Jack Brunell 3^rd.

The 2023 Arenacross British Champion was officially crowned as non other than Tommy Searle.

A really fantastic series and a huge credit to all involved with the event. Lots of people who had never seen the sport filled the arenas around the UK which can only be a positive for the sport.

That’s a wrap for the Arenacross 2023, now the riders to prepare for the outdoor events starting soon.

Other winners include:

AX E5 class – Austin Edwards

AX 65cc class – Casey Lister

AX Supermini – Isaac Ash

AX Futures – Joel Fisher

AX Pro Am – Sian Tolbert

AX Pro Team Championship – Crendon fast track Honda

Pic credit @uk.motophoto