A new show featuring four motorcycle adventurers who get their hands dirty fixing their bikes. If you liked Long Way Down, you’ll learn something on Garage Night – watch these Britain-based world tourers work on every …

Last weekends round of the American Motocross Championship proved to be an exciting affair as Frenchman Christophe Pourcel and American Trey Canard fought for the title points. The two will finish business this weekend in California. Here is some video action from last weekend.

This weekend’s GP of Fermo, Italy marks the final round of the MX1 World Championship and what an interesting season it has been for all of those aboard the Honda CRF450R. Honda Racing MX Martin rider Jimmy Albertson has been competing in his rookie year in the World Championship.

Regardless of the crisis in Latvian Motor sport federation, thanks to motorcycle race fanatics this incredible sports – motorcycle race – continues to develop in Latvia, and we all could be proud that in our small country Latvia there is a new star who showed himself very brilliantly on the world level.

The next instalment of the Honda Racing Xtreme Academy video series. Please click on the link opposite to access. There are essentially two facets of the Xtreme Academy, the Xtreme Academy Championships and the Xtreme Academy Training Camps.

This weekend the WMX will head to Fermo in Italy for the final round of their competitive championship. KTM Factory rider Steffi Laier heads the class by 39points from Livia Lancelot, can the German lass repeat her success from 2009? Barring a complete disaster Laier should walk away with the crown but never count your chickens as the old saying goes.

Steffi is looking to spray the champagne one more time in Fermo. (Image by Ray Archer)

Britain’s Natalie Kane is sixth in the championship and still has a chance to finish within the top 5 but Natalie would have to show her best form on the newly designed Italian circuit to stand a chance.

How the points look:

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Final preparations are being put in place for the biggest motocross event to be held in the UK for many years, as the stage is being set for a spectacular weekend of racing nostalgia at the Farleigh Castle Veterans MXdN, which is sponsored by Buildbase on the 18th and 19th September.

Deprived of the home baked excitement of a British Grand Prix, Challis decided to hitch a lift in the Moto charabanc on a weekend trip to shexy Holland to take in the delights of the MXGP action in the deep sands of Lierop. Would it be a Dutch Dream or a Netherlands nightmare….?

Day 1

7.30 Chussy arrives in the Moto battle bus. Despite the good weather forecast, being marginal OCD, I’ve packed clothes for every possible weather condition from Alpine snow, to tropical monsoon or Sahara heat wave – I can hardly lift my bag. Ray seems to have opted to bring fifteen bags of camera accessories and a straw cowboy hat in the style of the Village People.

10.30 We arrive in Maidstone to collect the rest of the party, Editor Ben and roving reporter Jonathan Bentman. Interestingly JB’s dining room seems to have had a makeover from Changing Rooms – all rich purple and statement furniture – nice. Ben’s kitted up in a hoody and flatpeak like he’s Jeffrey Herlings. He’s not.

12.15 We’re at the Chunnel and hopping round excitedly, managing to overlook that the trains have the look of cattle wagons. The talk is all about the MXoN team selection and where we can get bacon butty.

13.40 Woo – In Calais now and heading for Holland. I try to say something interesting about North Belgium as we pass through but before I manage to think of anything we’ve already left.

15.00 Stuck in stupidly heavy traffic as we try to drive past Antwerp, it takes us two frickin hours to get to the clear straight roads heading to Eindhoven. Mind you I can see why they are driving past; it looks like Coventry without the charm.

17.00 We arrive at the welcome centre just outside the pretty little village of Lierop. The guys behind the desk don’t speak good English (better than our Dutch!) so Ben Opts for saying ‘JOHN SON’ very slow and loud. This works well. JB tries the same tack, but shouting ‘BENT MAN’ at the guys is perhaps not the best move.

17.10 We drop off JB as he’s sharing a tent or tepee or something with Gary Freeman (redeye), grab a quick coffee in the press centre and head back to find our hotel in the suburbs of Eindhoven.

19.00 We finally get to the hotel which is on the way to the Airport. It’s taken a while to get here as the Sat Nav needs updating and it can’t work out where to go. We check in grab the three sh’s and head back to the city for a pizza, fighting our way through the legions of enormous cycles and freakily tall people on them.

10.00 It’s been a long day, so we head back to the hotel bar for a cheeky beer before bed. The barmaid fumbles the glass and throws most of mine over my lap – nice.   Back to the room (we’re sharing, but in an entirely heterosexual William Hague way) and we’re off to bed. I’m so pleased I bought ear plugs as Chussy snores like he’s dragging a trawler up a cobbled street…..

Day 2 Zaterdag – that’s Saturday in Dutch

7.30 The iphone alarms are chirping away merrily but the residents of room 308 are not as bright. After hitting the snooze a few times, the sound track becomes like the campfire scene in Blazing Saddles, so it’s time to move before our eyes start watering. The Sat Nav is feeling better this morning so we manage to get to the circuit in half an hour – bonus

9.00 Lierop is still uncannily quiet as we pass through, parking up in what is enthusiastically called car park B, but is in reality a field. On the other side of the road are beautifully manicured rows of salad vegetables glistening in the sun. Bravely confirming all racial stereotypes, the fans walking in front of us all are sporting impressive mullets and enjoying an almost medically strong breakfast spliff – good work.

9.25 The Oldies of the VMX championship are already transferring from their Zimmer frames to their bikes for first practice and sounding worryingly fast. Complimentary coffee in hand I feel obliged to have a look at the circuit.

9.32 There seems to be some mistake – this place is beautiful, it’s like a bloody nature reserve and they’ve managed to craft a fantastic motocross track in the middle of it.  In Britain there’d be sandal wearing, tofu munching ramblers with their stupid walking poles, protesting within seconds, finding some infinitesimally small beetle to save.

10.00 Whilst the veterans were OK to watch, it’s just filler and where here to watch the pros and when the MX2 glamour boys come out onto the tough sand circuit, it’s impossible not to be impressed. Marvin, Ken and Gautier are killing the track and this is just practice. I’m not even this fast when I’m dreaming.

10.45 The big boys come out and take it up a level. All the big names are slamming over the wave sections – DeSalle, Ramon, Cairoli, Phillipaerts, De Dyker and Nagl – even token Brit Tom Church is doing the business – go TC.  Shame Swordy gets travelsick, I think he’d quite like it.

13.00 Getting a bit peckish so Ben and I go in search of a drink and a cake at HM Plant KTM. No cakes on view so we have to settle for some marsh mallow cake shaped sweets. They taste a bit like pipe lagging. What’s the deal with MX teams and Pick ‘n Mix? Oh yes, that’s the MXoN selection process…

15.15 The old guys are out again for their first race, but with no British Golden Oldies to cheer on I’m not too fussed. Shame Thorpe currently has his legs held together with gaffer tape, I’m sure he’s quicker than these guys. Couldn’t tell you who won as a) the commentators only speak Dutch and b) I don’t know any of them. Still I couldn’t do 100 yards that quick.

16.05 Finally the Qualifying races start and the circuit has filled up nicely. The track is cut deeply into the sandy soil which makes viewing great – you can look right down on your MX heroes as they throw the roost. MX2 and MX1 are giving it berries for the gate positions. Tomorrows racing is going to be mad.

18.00 The racing is done for the day, but Ben and Chussy have vital downloading and report writing to do – it’s the harsh coalface of journalism. I settle for a walk round the pits again and photograph a few bikes whilst munching an overcooked bratwurst sausage that looks like a big dog’s knob.

20.45 Finally get back to the hotel after Sat Nav lady has taken us around all of Northern Holland. There’s barely time for a quick freshen up before catching a taxi into Eindhoven’s centre and catch up with Geoff Meyer. A big Mac meal later, seasoned Dutch visitor Ben guides to the infamous Bar Street, which unconfusingly is packed with bars, there’s a great atmosphere, even if most of the bars serve beer in stupidly small glasses with an inch of head. We just drink lots of them.

23.00 We settle on the liveliest looking bar, complete with dance floor on top of the pool table, pumping cheesy Dutch techno and some guy ploughing his way through a box of dodgy looking shots. A hen party takes up residence behind us but much to Geoff’s disappointment, it’s the brides mum that his giving him the glad eye.   It’s been a good day and when we eventually get a cab back we’re done in. Ray’s snoring goes up to Number 11.

Day 3 – Zondag – Race Day

8.00 We are at the track bright and early as the receptionist told us the way. At a Brit GP, there would be gridlocked traffic and legions of Police, in Holland we just drive straight in without a single hitch. The chance of Matterley to running as smoothly seems as likely as a British MX1 Champion. The press room is busy as we set things up, Chussy fiddles with lenses before we head out into the paddock to soak up the atmosphere. With the warm up laps done the second veteran’s race is not till 11.15

11.00 KTM host a big conference to tell us the worst kept secret about De Coster. Nice of ‘The Man’ to stay up till 5 AM though. We are all hoping for a bigger surprise, perhaps that they’ve also signed Roczen and Reed, but it never comes.

12.10 MX2 Race 1 – We watch the start and then head down to follow the circuit round. Roczen is on blistering form as too is the recently returned from injury Gautier Paulin. Musquin lurks in the background, waiting for the chance to pounce. Ben and I work our way round the track as the MX2 guys slam round the Lierop sand. Mel Pocock and Jake Nicholls are putting on an impressive show, and Shaun Simpson is riding like er, like a bloke that doesn’t have an injury bad enough to keep him out of the Nations.

12.35 The Dutch commentator is going potty and we hear the words ‘Roczens motor ist kaput’ and we realise that that’s gifted the championship to Marvin as long as he stays upright. The finish line is awash with orange shirts by the time we get back to the top of the circuit. KTM have got the double they wanted and their joy is unstoppable. Everts has delivered the goods in spectacular style.

13.10 The Premier class is off the line at a blistering pace, but Cairoli, Phillipaerts and DeSalle get tangled up and are faced with a fight through the pack – exactly what the crowd wanted. Seeing Tony carve up the pack to record a second place behind the understated Max Nagl is a thing of beauty – he rides so fast and smooth over such a punishing circuit it’s hard to see anyone ever being MX1 champion ‘til he retires.

15.03 MX2 race 2 and despite the fact the championship is lost, Roczen is going all out to show everyone that if it were not for his DNF’s this season, he might be the one celebrating. If he’s not on a KTM next year I’ll be very surprised. The rest of the pack put on a good show with Paulin,  Musquin and Roelants impressing again. Jake does OK but seems to be fading towards the end of the Moto.

16.03 MX1 race 2 and like Roczen Cairoli is out to impress in this one, sprinting away from the pack like the rest of them have left the handbrake on. TC starts OK but drops into the pack and Desalle has another ‘mare ride – this weekend has been one to forget for the MX Panda. Marc DeReuver is riding like he’s ten years younger and the thousands of home fans love it. Tony crosses the line in triumph to be met with a cocktail from his mechanic – classy in an 80’s stylee. His stunning girlfriend Jill is on had to celebrate the overall win with him – how bloody lucky is this guy – it’s just not fair.

With the racing over it was just a question of writing final reports, packing up and heading back to the van. The drive home was slow and dull, interspersed only by a night in the hyper frugal F1 Hotel in Calais. Ben managed to nearly knock himself out when getting into the top bunk, but at least the TV was showing badly dubbed German soft porn…

And that was the weekend. Great racing, a fantastic circuit and good company – you can’t ask for much more – roll on Denver for the MXoN.

Words and images by Julian Challis

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The Ashville, NC video, Push is premiering September 16th. Check the trailer. Get the Quicktime here if you need it.

Plan B comes through with a sick seven minute tour video from their time on the east coast.