MXGB could run to end of October

MXGB has provided some information on how it plans to go racing in 2020 when the conditions allow for it.

In a press release on the MXGB website, the championship manager, Tim Lightfoot, detailed some of the problems facing British motocross’ return in 2020, but also gave some ideas as to the potential solutions the championship is considering to get as many gate drops as possible in before the end of the year. 

Part of MXGB’s decision is taken out of its hands by the ACU, which has suspended all motorcycle racing until the end of May, and could extend that ban further depending on how the situation with the novel coronavirus changes between now and the end of the month, and government and Public Health England regulations and advice regarding it. 

But that doesn’t mean the series can’t plan ahead, and as Lightfoot explained, the championship has “been planning and working through different scenarios.”

One of the issues Lightfoot highlighted was the inclusion of some MXGP teams and riders in the British championship, which means MXGB needs to work around the World Championship’s revised (and not final) calendar. “We have MXGP teams racing in the ACU British MX Championship so want to avoid clashing with those dates,” Lightfoot said. 

Lightfoot went on to say that MXGB has “been looking at the options around extending the championship to the end of October, which is probably as late as we can run before daylight and weather become a factor.” The MXGP calendar currently has three rounds in October, the last of which scheduled to take place in Portugal on October 18. That leaves, strictly speaking, two weekends for the British championship in October, if you include the weekend of October 31/November 1. Additionally, there are currently only two weekends between the next scheduled round of the MXGP series in Latvia on July 12 and the end of October, meaning fitting the British series around the World Championship will be challenging, unless GPs start to get cancelled, rather than postponed. 

Lightfoot also pointed out that the decision has been taken to run the adult and youth MXGB championships separately from each other. Lightfoot said: “We have been considering what is in the best interests of both the adult and youth British Championships and the remaining rounds of this year’s adult championships will now be standalone and not incorporate the British Youth Championship. This decision was taken in consultation with the manufacturers, team managers and riders with the aim of putting on the best possible adult championship at the best available venues. Likewise, we feel this will give the BYC more options and we are working with Gareth Hockey and his team to ensure the best possible standalone British Youth Championship.” 

This could potentially be a blow for the youth championship, but with the potential scheduling issues for the adult championship, freeing the youth series from the adults should provide a greater opportunity to get as many youth championship gate drops as possible before the year is done, and have as close to a complete championship as possible.