By Carly Rathmell
October 21 2004

Some of the UK’s leading motorcycle sports stars are set to do battle as the 24-rider line-up was announced last night for the first ever Moto1 challenge at Donington Park, on 30-31 October. The twenty-four champions of motorcycle sport will compete in two legs of four disciplines; trials, motocross, supermoto and road racing, all to discover Britain’s best.

Of the nine road race aces lining up, it is British Supersport champion and former youth motocross sensation Karl Harris who is confident of taking victory and the £6000 first prize. Harris faces road race opposition from fellow Supersport stars Stuart Easton, Michael Laverty, Craig Jones, Cal Crutchlow and Tom Sykes, and from Superbike riders Kieran Clarke, Jon Kirkham and Dean Ellison.

Former European Stunt Riding Champion Craig Jones joins the action, along with World stars from trials ­Graham Jarvis and Sam Connor. The tough guys of motocross vying for the Moto1 title include Scotsmen David Campbell, Billy Mackenzie and Vic Allan MBE, while England is represented by brothers Danny and Jody Smyth.

An accomplished list of enduro riders is led by World Championship runner-up David Knight from the Isle of Man, joined by his brother and 2002 British Champion Juan. Twice British four-stroke enduro champion Wayne Braybrook and twice 125cc British champion Edward Jones may well offer the surprise package.

Motorcycling’s newest sport, Supermoto, fields Moto1’s only female rider Anita Doran, all-rounder Ady Smith and new British Champion David Tougher. A complete list of the Moto1 line-up is below.

“We’re very excited by the talented and experienced entry we have for the first Moto1,” said event Managing Director Robbie Allan. “With little more than a week to go the riders are all finalising their preparations for the four sports. It’s very difficult to predict who will win.”


Moto1 ·­ News in brief - nine days to go!!

Tyre giants Pirelli and Dunlop have both pledged their support to the inaugural Moto1 event.

R1 Yamaha-riding ‘Little Laugh’ - a celebrity comedian in his native Switzerland - is a late entry to the final round of the World Stunt Riding Championship at Moto1.

Advance ticket sales for Moto1 have exceeded expectations as the event captures the imagination. All details are on the Moto1 website at: www.moto1.org

SKY Sports will broadcast five hours of the Moto1 action, starting on November 17 at 5pm.

Any marshals interested in assisting at the Moto1 event can contact the marshals co-ordinator Sue Wale on 0116-277 0458.

The Mansfield Maun Motorcycle Club is running an Experts and Clubmans trial at Moto1.

Qualifying for the World Stunt Riding Championship will take place at 1pm on Saturday 30 October, in the Melbourne Loop section of the Donington Park circuit.

Freestyle motocross demonstrations at Moto1 are being organised by Gary Taylor, son of the late wheelie king Dave Taylor.

Trials test rides are available at Moto1, courtesy of Colin Appleyard Motorcycles.


Moto1 line-up A to Z

VIC ALLAN M.B.E., 59, Garlogie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Former Scottish and British motocross champion. Holds record for most GB team appearances in Moto Cross des Nations. K.R.C. 2003 600cc road race champion.

WAYNE BRAYBROOK, 34, Bury, Lancs, England
1988 British Clubmans trials champion. Winner of 2000 Scott trial. 2002 and 2004 British four-stroke enduro champion.

DAVID CAMPBELL, 33, Irvine, Scotland
2003-04 British four-stroke motocross champion.

KIERAN CLARKE, 19, Langley Mill, Notts, England
British Superbike Championship rider. Third in 2003 R6 Cup. Former schoolboy motocross champion and supermoto rider.

SAM CONNOR, 24, Twickenham, London, England
World Trials Championship rider. Third in 2003 British Championship. Former Youth Champion.

CAL CRUTCHLOW, 18, Coventry, England
2001 Aprilia 125 Challenge winner. Second in 2003 R6 Yamaha Cup. 10th in 2004 British Supersport Champs.

ANITA DORAN, 24, Lurgan, Northern Ireland
Ten years racing motocross in UK and America. Grade B1 Supermoto winner in 2003.

STUART EASTON, 20, Hawick, Borders, Scotland
British Superbike and Supersport Championship rider. 2002 British Supersport Champion. Former motocross and supermoto competitor.

DEAN ELLISON, 26, Kendal, Cumbria, England
Three years in British Superbike, World Superbike, Endurance and Supersport. Ridden trials, supermoto and motocross.

LEIGHTON HAIGH, 29, Scunthorpe, Humbs, England
Former motocross and sand racer. 2003 British 450cc Supermoto Champion.

KARL HARRIS, 24, Sheffield, England
Three times British Supersport Champion. 1999 European Superstock Champion. Former youth motocross champion.

GRAHAM JARVIS, 29, Harrogate, N. Yorks, England
World Trials Championship rider. Reigning British Trials Champion. Winner of 10 Youth titles.

CRAIG JONES (RR), 19, Northwich, Cheshire, England
1994 minimoto champion. 2002 Junior Superstock Champion. Eighth in 2004 British Supersport champs.

CRAIG JONES (Stunt), 36, Birmingham, England
Harley-Davidson/Buell factory stunt rider. European Stunt Riding Champion in 2003.

EDWARD JONES, 24, Llanidloes, Powys, Wales
2001-02 125cc British Enduro Champion. Winner of five ISDE gold medals. Runner-up in 2003 British Enduro Champs.

JON KIRKHAM, 19, Derby, England
British Superbike rider, finished second in 2004 Cup champs.

DAVID KNIGHT, 26, Ballaugh, Isle of Man.
World Enduro Championship rider. Five times British Enduro Champion. Former trials, supermoto and road race competitor. Three times winner of Weston Beach Race.

JUAN KNIGHT, 29, Andreas, Isle of Man
2002 British Enduro Champion. Winner of Manx trials (seven times), enduro (twice) and motocross (once) titles.

MICHAEL LAVERTY, 23, Toombridge, Northern Ireland
Third in 2004 British Supersport champs. 1995 Irish Schoolboy Motocross Champion.

BILLY MACKENZIE, 29, Edinburgh, Scotland
Multi schoolboy motocross champion. Winner of Sheffield Supercross.

ADY SMITH, 39, Burton-on-Trent, Derbys, England
Six times British Enduro champion. 2001 British Supermoto Champion. Former trials rider.

DANNY SMYTH, 28, Scaynes Hill, West Sussex, England
Sixth in 2004 British MX2 motocross champs. Third in 2004 British four-stroke champs.

JODY SMYTH, 26, Scaynes Hill, West Sussex, England
Fourth in 2004 British four-stroke motocross champs. 14th in 2004 British Open motocross champs.

TOM SYKES, 19, Huddersfield, England
Second in 2002 Junior Superstock Champs. Fifth in 2004 British Supersport Champs.

DAVID TOUGHER, 36, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Three times British schoolboy motocross champion. Seven times Irish Supermoto champion. 2004 British Open Supermoto champion.