The first round of the UK’s biggest motocross series, the 2023 Michelin MX Nationals British Championship, came to the new sand track near Oakhanger.

The event included 30 races across Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26.

The Michelin MX Nationals series has lots of local and national male and female riders taking part – some as young as ten – right up to the professionals.

There was strong local interest, particularly in the form of Petersfield-based team Cab Screens Crescent Yamaha, who have the Pro 2022 MX1 and Pro MX2 class champions riding for them in 2023 – Harri Kullas from Estonia and Jamie Carpenter from Bournemouth.

The weekend kicked off on the Saturday with favourable weather and a drying race track, after rain in the build-up during the week.

The younger riders in the 85cc class, aged between ten and 14 years old, had three races across the weekend, with Josh Vail in the big wheel 85cc class proving unbeatable and taking three race wins.

While in the small wheel 85cc class, Joel Winstanley-Dawson took the overall honours.

In the youth 125cc/250cc classes, for riders aged between 14 and 17 years old, Reece Jones took the 125cc honours and was unbeaten.

Kawasaki UK rider Billy Askew took his GTCI Revo Kawasaki to the three race wins in the 250cc class.

There were also races for amateur adult riders in six other classes over the weekend.

The pro class races took place on the Sunday, when heavy overnight rain meant a reduced race schedule and shorter races.

The 2022 Pro MX1 class champion Kullas, from Estonia, led the first pro race, before the Honda UK machine of Conrad Mewse went past for a race win.

Mewse repeated a win in race two for the overall win, followed by Kullas and Josh Gilbert from Cornwall.

In the Pro MX2 class, KTM mounted Bailey Johnson took his first ever pro win, with a faultless performance in tough conditions from Calum Mitchell and Hampshire-based Jake Millward.

Round two of the series takes place in south Wales on the weekend of Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7.

Rounds will also be held in Lancashire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Shropshire later in the year.

Anyone who would like more information about the 2023 Michelin MX Nationals British Championship should visit www.mxnationals.co.uk for further details.

Report: Ian Webber

Pictures: MX Nationals – Elliot Spencer