Billy Mackenzie is planning to spoil the party in the Park for the five riders chasing the World MX1 Championship at this Sunday’s penultimate round at Donington Park – the determined Scot has enjoyed home glory before and is eager for more at this all new event to the Leicestershire circuit.
He goes head to head with Kiwi Josh Coppins who returns from injury to boost his hopes of winning elite crown. The Yamaha rider has missed a couple of rounds after damaging his shoulder in a tumble and that has allowed his rivals to close in.
Belgian rider Steve Ramon is just a dozen points down and in this hotly competitive series, his team-mate Kevin Strijbos, a winner last Sunday in Northern Ireland, has powered in, together with Sebastien Pourcel and David Philippaerts.
Mackenzie is ready to take on all-comers: “I really want to win this one. There is pressure and I put it into something positive. We get good vibes off the crowd. I never put any pressure on myself, I just try my best and that’s all you can do. But it helps when the British fans are there just to push it along.”
He will be looking to them to boost him to victory, just as they did in corresponding event when it was held in the Isle of Wight: “I can’t define what it is that they give you, but it’s always there, giving you that extra boost. The British fans are the best in the world.
“They get right behind you and that win on the Isle of Wight two years was the best moment of my career right up to winning this year in Japan, so I guess you could say that a moto win in Britain is equal to three GP wins in a row anywhere else. To win the Grand Prix at Donington would be awesome.”
Tommy Searle, meanwhile, is promising to turn on the speed and the style in the MX2 races – the 18 year old Red Bull KTM rider knows that strong rides can ease him to the runner-up spot in the World Championship.
The rider who lives nearby to Donington, ran the newly crowned champion Antonio Cairoli close in the Northern Ireland round. He had to settle for second best then, but now he is aiming for his first ever winning double though he faces sterns challenges coming in from home riders including the highly talented Carl Nunn riding the Bike-it Yamaha, Thomas Church aboard the Molson Kawasaki and Shaun Simpson on the Wulfsport Kawasaki.
Adding to the race action, with each of the MX1 and MX2 riders facing a pair all action thrillers decided over 35 minutes and two laps, are events promising a nostalgic blast from the past with riders competing in the FIM Veterans World Cup.
It is the first time the British Motocross Grand Prix has been held in the Midlands confirming Donington Park as the top motorsport venue in Great Britain. Practice will be held on Saturday August 25 with a full day of Championship racing on Sunday August 26.
Tickets are on sale – to book visit
www.donington-park.co.uk or call the hot-line on 08700 429 669.
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