The second round of the Revo British championship bursts into life at the historic Lyng track on Sunday, and it’ll be the first time since the end of 2019 there has been spectators allowed. A maximum of 4000 fans are allowed in, and the event will be live streamed if you can’t make it. But here are some nuggets of info you might like to know.
1 Jeffrey Herlings is back and in the UK
OK, most people already know this but it’s one of the few times Herlings has raced in Britain outside of a GP or the Hawkstone pre-season international. He’s not raced for eight months, since he smashed himself up in Italy while leading the 2020 world championship. He took the time off to get his foot operated on, something that has plagued him for several years. Now he’s back but hasn’t raced yet. And with the GPs starting in Russia only three weeks after Lyng, he needs track time.
That’s if the GP does start in Russia. Although the official line is that it will go ahead as a one-day race, it’s believed a final decision will be made at the end of this week.
2 Ben Watson makes his UK debut on the 450 Yamaha
He’s our only factory MXGP rider, and makes his UK debut on the mighty YZ450FM at Lyng. It’s a circuit he likes but claims has never been particularly kind to him. And despite what you may have seen online, his brother Nathan isn’t racing. He rides for a French Honda team and is racing at Crisolles in France this weekend.
Also in France is Arminas Jasikonis making his return to racing after a head injury last year, Glenn Coldenhoff, Arnaud Tonus, Jeremy Seewer, Jago Geerts, Jed Beaton and lots of other GP stars.
3 It’s all about the start
While the wise money may be on a Herlings vs Watson battle, the Lyng circuit is very one-line and difficult to make passes on. If Watson gets a good start and Herlings doesn’t, it’s a tricky track to get to the front. Especially as the Bullet hasn’t ridden there before and there is only one practice session to not only get used to the track but get a good start position which is also crucial at the circuit. That means the Dutchman will be up against it in qualifying, as the fastest laps will probably be in the first few laps as the track as at its smoothest. That’s a big ask. But of course, we all know how special Herlings is when he’s at his best.
4 Bobby is fighting an injury
Husky’s Evgeny Bobryshev may have run away with the opening round, taking a double win, but he’s now carrying an injury and has admitted he’ll just be riding as hard as he can to rescue as many points as possible. He crashed this week testing and broke his shoulder blade. So he may not even be able to race at all.
Also out is Honda’s Jake Nicholls, still not fully recovered from his injury that kept him away from the opening round. Also out is Revo Kawasaki’s James Dunn, who crashed in qualifying at the opening round and was carted off with a suspected broken femur. Luckily it wasn’t broken but he’s still not fit enough to race again.
5 Local lads make a comeback
A few local heroes who don’t contest the whole series are riding in the Lyng round, and could come up with a few surprises. The obvious candidate is Lewis Tombs, who was running third in the MX1 championship in 2019 on the Buildbase Honda. He’s now back on a private Honda and has been rapid in local Eastern Centre races. So he could be a podium threat. Also racing is ex GP rider James Cottrell in the MX2 class, who can show a real turn of speed.
6 It’s that man Everts!
Son of ten-tines world champ Stefan Everts and grandson of four-times champ Harry, everywhere that Liam Everts goes is an expectation he will be just as successful. He raced at the opening MX2 round but crashed in the first moto and retired with a hurt hand. He’s back, and after taking a podium against some of the top GP men in Sweden last weekend, is obviously fit and ready to race.
7 The favourites are…
Well apart from the obvious Herlings/ Watson MXGP wildcards, and discounting injured Bobryshev, the main men in MX1 are likely to be Dylan Walsh and Tommy Searle – the podium finishers at the opener, as well as former British champ Shaun Simpson. He had mechanical issues at the first round but after winning in Scotland last week, is back to winning ways.
With Adam Sterry, Elliott Banks-Browne, Martin Barr, Harri Kullas, Jake Millward, Liam Knight, Stuart Edmonds and more, it’ll be a massive battle.
In the MX2 class, opening round winner Conrad Mewse will face a threat from DRY MX2 GP rider Wilson Todd, who win the final Culham moto. But Todd has had arm surgery since then so might not be at full form.
Scottish privateer John Adamson was on the podium at the opener, and goes well in the sand, so will be in the runing along with Taylor Hammal, Brad Anderson, Liam Everts, Jay Hague, Ashton Dickinson, Florian Miot, Steven Clarke and lots more.
With an MXY2 and Women’s support class, it’s going to a stunning round for sure.