On Sunday the 1st June, the off-road world will turn its eyes to
Mallory Park, as the British circuit hosts round six of the 2008 MX1 and MX2 Motocross World Championship on a newly constructed grand prix track.
The event will be broadcast worldwide across over 30 TV networks covering 400 countries, while 24,000 fans are expected trackside to cheer on the home riders.
British victory hopes rest largely with
Red Bull KTM rider Tommy Searle (MX2) and Monster CAS Honda's Billy Mackenzie (MX1).
Searle, the 2007 world championship runner-up, picked up his first ever grand prix victory with 2-1 race finishes in last year's British GP - held at
Donington Park. Tommy heads for the 2008 event third in the points, but is a mere eight behind team-mate Tyla Rattray with reigning champion Antonio Cairoli sandwiched in between. Searle has already tasted victory this season, winning in Bulgaria.
"It will be a big grand prix for me, a really big race," said Searle, who is heading to America in 2009. "Everyone will be there. The crowd support will also help - I know it did last year. It is going to be a good grand prix for me; I know I can win it, that isn't the problem. Anything can happen, but I feel good about this one."
Other British stars to watch for in MX2 will be Shaun Simpson and Stephen Sword. Rising star Simpson is sixth in the championship with Sword just behind in seventh place.
Meanwhile, Mackenzie is also hoping to rise to the occasion as chases his first victory of the 2008 season in the premier MX1 class.
"I'm really looking forward to the British Grand Prix as for me and the team it is important because it's our 'home' race," said the Scot, currently fifth in the standings with a best race finish of second. "My CAS Honda CRF450R is performing well and to win in front of all of the British fans would be incredible. I hear the event organisers have a lot of activities planned off the track during the weekend, so the atmosphere should be great and hopefully we can make it a success to keep our grand prix at a permanent venue in the UK."
