Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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U. K. Supercross Series Round 3: NEG Stadium "I knew I had to get to the front quickly," Dobb told. "I used the heat Edwards, the Birmingham stadium holds some sweet memories. to get comfortable on the track; it's "I raced against my hero Ricky so small, and you have to be careful, as the ruts mess you up." British Supercross Champion Warren Edwards, riding the Aiwa Johnson here about 10 years ago," Yamaha, won his heat race ahead of Jason Higgs and Brian Steele. For Edwards said. "I led him for a bunch of laps - that was when I was much younger, and maybe faster." The final heat was won by CAS Honda's Grand Prix rider Neil Prince. The British veteran led home Ricky (Left) Current 125cc Worid Motocross Champion Jamie Dobb dominated the proceedings at round three of the Clear Channel-promoted U.K. Supercross Series in Birmingham, England. (Below) Dobb (middle) Is flanked by podium finishers Mark Hucklebridge and Jason Higgs. Higgs and David Campbell. MAINS While Dobb had gotten used to the track, his starts remained terrible, and in the final, the 29-year-old again found himself back in the Clear Channel Motor Sports may have suffered a blow back home with AMA Pro Racing's announcement that it would be going with a new promoter in 2003, but the Chicago company is making a push overseas (and, by the way, it clearly isn't giving up the battle for American SX). Clear Channel this year purchased the Matt Bates-run U.K. Supercross Series - not to be confused with the British International Supercross Series - and its director of operations, Todd Jendro (right), was present in Birmingham. "This is a very, very good series," Jendro said. "We know that Mat Bates [middle) can do a great job; he is very professional with everything he does. We are at present looking at new stadiums for the series, and for sure this series will be even bigger in 2002. One of our ideas is to improve the quality of the riders in England; this event will do that. Maybe in the future, these events will be part of a World series. That is something we have looked at, and with the help of Mat Bates, I see no reason why that aim is not possible. In America, we race pretty much in really nice stadiums. The stadiums in England are not at the same level that we use for our Arenacross events, but they are still good enough to make a nice evening's racing," Dobb said. "I am so happy to win in STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER front of my home crowd, and as a BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, NOV. 17 World Champion. It's been a fun ew 125cc World Motocross night, and I am also glad to be able Champion Jamie Dobb made a to back this series. It's so important, successful return to racing with a with Clear Channel involved in the win in the Clear Channel-owned U.K. sport in England; it will only make Supercross Series, the KTM factory supercross bigger and improve rid- rider producing a typically consis- ers' quality.· tent performance by winning his GUALIFVING heat race and semi-final and then Dobb's night began with a ride taking home the all-important final. Second place went to Church from the back of the pack. The Derr- Kawasaki rider Mark Hucklebridge, by, England, rider was not about to with Jason Higgs collecting third on take chances, making a mid-pack a Husqvarna. start and working his way through "This is my first race back since the field before winning ahead of winning the World Championship," 12 DECEMBER 5,2001 • a U a I Hucklebridge and Kelly Swanson. n e _ s e Jendro was also quick to point out the other Clear Channel races that will run throughout Europe in the coming months. "We will be back for the German and Swiss Arenacross races," Jendro said. "Those are another two races that will maybe one day help see a World Supercross series. Both stadiums, in Leipzig and Geneva, are good enough for major events, and that Is why we went there. It's all very exciting at the moment." Roy Janson (left), a veteran in the Clear Channel team (and the company's first employee to visit the series in 2001), is also impressed with the set-up of the series. "This is Clear Channel's third night of racing since taking over the series. I was lucky enough to be in Ireland for the first round. That was a great event - sold out on both nights - and you can see that Mat Bates and his guys are really putting in great-quality racing. (At) both events so far, the dirt has been a little soft, which has made for good racing. What is important is getting the young guys in the night's program. I can tell you, these 80cc riders tonight, they will be racing with the Americans in the future. and that is our aim - to lift the quality of riders in England.·