Guernsey Press

Riders aiming to be crowned CI champ

GUERNSEY’S motocross riders are revving their engines at the promise of a brand-new Channel Islands Championship event.

Published
George Symons was in fine form in the first motocross meet of the year at Pleinmont at the weekend. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 26925999)

The championship is set to include 12 races over two weekends, these being a Guernsey race meet planned for 18-19 April and a Jersey version on 2-3 May.

It welcomes five different classes of riders – from the youth 65s and autos to the A Group big-guns and the veterans.

Motocross vice-captain Graham Waddingham, filling in for an absent Carl Wallbridge, feels that it is a worthy replacement for Guernsey’s previously popular two-day event.

‘It’s an idea we’ve had for a little while and Carl’s brought it into operation this year,’ he said.

‘It will be similar to our two-day which we used to have in October, which we’ve had to remove, really. We’ve had outside influences from the Torteval douzeniers and Environment, who’ve been noticing we’ve been encroaching more into the summer months.

‘It’s not a problem, but with motocross it’s just trying to find weather, and it’s being pushed into being a winter sport, more and more.’

This follows from the weather-induced cancellation of the final two events of last year’s championship.

‘The Channel Islands Championship – the Jersey boys are quite keen on it as well,’ added Waddingham.

‘Hopefully come the end of it, we’ll be able to crown a new champion, which will be a nice ending to a good few race meets.

‘We’re still trying to get some sponsorship and are trying to encourage companies to help us out where they can, because it’s something new and the SandAce is gone now.’

The next domestic motocross round is on Saturday 1 February.