Printed on 10 January 2023
The Arenacross UK sequence will get off in Belfast on the twentieth and twenty first of January and one rider that’s gearing up for his debut Belfast Arenacross is Ben McConville. It was an excellent 2022 for McConville after clinching the BW85 Ulster Championship and he may have a vivid future.
We caught up with McConville to debate the choice to race the Supermini class at Belfast Arenacross, his season and extra.
GateDrop: Ben, you’ll race the Belfast Arenacross UK within the Supermini class, what was the choice behind racing the Belfast spherical of the sequence?
McConville: It’s all been a little bit of a final minute choice, I’ve needed to do the Arenacross since I first seen it after I was 6 but it surely simply by no means occurred for one purpose or one other and that is possibly my final probability earlier than I transfer as much as a much bigger bike. We tried to get into the complete sequence but it surely was simply to final minute to get an area, however I’m actually glad to be racing in my dwelling city and hope everybody will get behind me.
GateDrop: Clearly Arenacross is totally totally different to what you might be used to in Motocross however the crowd is at all times good on the SSE Enviornment, are you wanting ahead to racing in entrance of a packed crowd and expertise one thing completely totally different?
McConville: I’m actually wanting ahead to experiencing one thing totally different. Clearly on the British Motocross now we have crowds there however this can be totally different with such a giant crowd in a single area and I’m certain will probably be an expertise I’ll hopefully always remember.
GateDrop: What have you ever been doing to be able to put together for the occasion because it’s completely totally different from Motocross…
McConville: To be trustworthy, I haven’t had any bike time even on the 85cc but as a result of my dad remains to be attempting to get an excellent bike put collectively for me however I don’t assume it’ll matter because the observe can be completely totally different than anybody may have practiced on. I simply hope my expertise on the 85cc final yr and working towards on the 125cc will enable me to throw the bike about lots simpler on a good circuit.
GateDrop: Simply in your season racing the Ulster/Irish Championships, are you able to inform me a bit about how your season went? Clearly successful the BW85 Ulster Championship should have felt nice!
McConville: Sure I’m glad to have received the Ulster Championship this yr once more, we solely achieved one Irish spherical on the finish of the season at Saul which I received the general as effectively. I feel I received all of the Ulster rounds other than one at Seaforde after we had clutch points the a lot of the day. We didn’t do the Irish this yr as I’m actually attempting to race in England extra to race in opposition to extra aggressive riders.
Picture: Nigel McKinstry
GateDrop: The previous few years the MRA have put the youth racing throughout the identical weekend because the Adults, it makes it an extended day however do you assume that is good for the game and do you like that?
McConville: Racing on the identical day because the adults had its advantages for me because the observe will get rougher and I race higher on extra technical tracks however sure it’s a very lengthy day for two races. I feel they should do a bit of labor on that this yr in the event that they’re going to run the identical format.
GateDrop: What’s your plans for the long run? I really feel like you possibly can be very aggressive racing the British Championships – are you planning racing a full British Championship sequence or chosen rounds in 2023?
McConville: Sure in 2023 I can be racing the complete British championship and as many wildcards within the nationals and even simply membership racing in England to trip totally different and harder tracks to realize extra expertise, and possibly even some races in Belgium and so forth, however we’re not certain the way to go about that simply but. To comply with on from that I might similar to to present a shout out to Thompson leisure for approaching board for one more season this yr with out them we couldn’t afford to go to England and race and we’re at present on the lookout for anybody else who wish to assist me this yr in anyway doable.
GateDrop: For 2023, will you progress as much as race a 125cc? Have you ever any plans for over winter to get away or will you keep in Northern Eire? I’d like to see you do a few EMX125 rounds while you get used to the bike – Cole McCullough has been aggressive and learnt tons racing that sequence…
McConville: No for 2023 I’m racing the 85cc within the UK as I’m nonetheless solely 13 so I wish to attempt to do higher within the British as final yr we simply achieved just a few chosen rounds to get used to the tracks. We have been enthusiastic about going to Spain in February however for the time being with having to construct a brand new bike I’m undecided we will afford too. I might like to go over to Europe and trip extra over there however I really feel I have to get higher driving within the UK first as its loads of expense we will’t afford.
Interview: Andy McKinstry
Photos: Nigel McKinstry
