Current British MX2 Champion, Shaun Simpson, is the latest top rider to sign up for the 12th annual Hawkstone International Motocross meeting on March 1st. Simpson who signed for the factory Red Bull KTM team before Christmas will be joined by his fellow team-mates German, Max Nagl (MX1) and Portuguese rider Rui Goncalves.

The factory KTM team line-up alongside one of the strongest rider line-ups the organisers, HIMX have seen in recent years. Alongside ex-World Champion Steve Ramon and British Champions Billy Mackenzie and Simpson there is a whole host of former national and World champions attending Hawkstone including, Nunn, Sword, Melotte and Crockard plus many more!

The current World Junior Champion Matiss Karro will be returning to Hawkstone Park, after his fantastic debut there back in September with the MVR-D Suzuki team. MVR-D will also be fielding riders Carl Nunn, James Noble, Jack Hawes and James Cottrell.

This year in the midst of the economic crisis HIMX have cut ticket prices from £25 to £20 for all adults and kids under the age of 14 are free. Parking on site is also free and with some of the best motocross riders in action, it is a day surely not to be missed as it will be fun packed and exciting and will give the crowd, teams and riders and brief idea of how the 2009 season could take shape this year.

HIMX have also gained the backing of insurance company Doodson's, Managing Director, Neil Clayton said "We are getting more involved in insurance and support for events and riders in motocross and all forms o off road sport and it is great to be involved with the event in 2009. As a season opener we are looking forward to a great days racing."

Rider Line-Up So Far:

MX1

William Saris                   R2C - Yamaha-Van de Laar Racing
Mark Jones
Jim Murro
Ken de Dycker                 Team Teka Suzuki WMX1
Cedric Melotte                 CAS Honda
Steve Ramon                  Team Teka Suzuki WMX1
Jamie Lewis
Sebastian Osbourne     IDS/Ride MX Yamaha
Marc de Reuver               Martin Honda
Jamie Smith                     LPE Kawasaki
James Noble                   MVR-D Suzuki
Dorren Coutts                  Yamaha
Carl Nunn                         MVR-D Suzuki
Tom Church                     CCM Racing Team
Jamie Law                        Relentless Suzuki
Lewis Gregory                  Motoextreme Kawasaki
Alex Snow                          Team KTM UK
Jordan Rose                     STR Honda
Nathan Parker                   STR Honda
Luke Mellows                    Meredith Suzuki / Dbs
Jason Dougan                  CCM Racing Team
Craig Trew                         Wulfsport Honda
Brad Anderson                  PAR Honda
Stuart Houlston                 Graham Charlton MX Honda
Erik Eggens                       Beursfoon Suzuki
Ashley Wilde                      Manchester Xtreme/Pro-Action Yamaha
Stuart Morrison                  Freestyle Husqvarna
Maik Voorwinden               Team Voorwinden-Brouwer KTM
Luke Kennett                      Wight Link/MJ Pragnell Plant Hire Honda
Gordon Crockard               PAR Honda
Alex Butler                           Corby Kawasaki
Stuart Edmonds                 TM UK/Electraction/CCM/Fox Europe
Billy Mackenzie                   CAS Honda
James Lassu                      Team Madness/Madtech Honda
Peter Redford                      TLD Suzuki Racing
Richard Cannings              Marsh Freight/PJ1 Honda
Ricky Mair Nightmair          MX Fast Eddy Racing Suzuki
Danny Blakeley                   Bricon/Silvesters M/Cs/Motul Yamaha
David Willet                          Bladez Yamaha
Kevin Strijbos                       Martin Honda
Max Nagl                               Red Bull KTM
Patrick Roos                         Pater MX Team KTM
Antti Pyrhonen
Jan Laurijsen

MX2

Shaun Simpson             Red Bull KTM
Herjan Brakke                 Team Nestaan-JUMBO Honda
Elliott Banks Browne      LPE Kawasaki
Stephen Sword               Team KTM UK
Jack Hawes                     MVR-D Suzuki
Wayne Smith                    Samsung Yamaha
Gareth Rees-Jones        TBS Fitness/Swan Scaffolding KTM
Jake Nicholls                   Team KTM UK
Pascal Leuret                   Honda
Scott Elderfield                 PAR Honda
Shane Carless                 Motone KTM
Richie Worral                     Proseal KTM
Ben Brooks                         KTM
Daniel Arnold                     LPE Kawasaki
Nick Triest                          Shineray MX Team China KTM
Matt Moffat                          Scott Leathers International KTM
Matiss Karro                       MVR-D Suzuki
Kris Voorwinden               Team Voorwinden-Brouwer KTM
Glenn Coldenhoff              Van de Wetering Suzuki
Michael Phillips                  DB Racing Honda
Greg Fisher                         Twisted 7 Honda
Tommy Fenwick                 JAR Honda by Site Sealants
Ferdi Keeler                         Keeler Bestrating BV KTM
Ryan Pottenger                    Wulfsport Electraction TM
Alex Rockwell                      Road & Track/Wulfsport Yamaha
Neville Bradshaw               DB Racing Honda
Graeme Irwin                       Team KTM UK
James Cottrell                     MVR-D Suzuki
Lewis Rose                          Kawasaki
Nick Kouwenberg               Team SKS-MotoWash KTM
Mike Kras                             GO Racing Team Kawasaki
Eric Leijtens                         F&H Racing Team KTM
Rasmus Jorgensen           Relentless Suzuki
Jordi Paez-Dominguez      R2C-Yamaha-Van de Laar Racing
Rui Goncalves                     Red Bull KTM
Yohei Kojima                       Teka Suzuki
Xavier Boog                          Inotec Suzuki
Ceriel Klein Kromhof         KTM Holland
Sacha Naude                      LS Honda

For more information visit

http://www.hawkstonemx.co.uk/LatestInternationalNews.aspx

For Directions to Hawkstone Motocross circuit click here: -

http://www.hawkstonemx.co.uk/Travel.aspx

Timetable of events:

09.00 - 09.45 MX2 Qualifying - 10 mins free, 30 mins timed, 5 mins start
10.00 - 10.45 MX1 Qualifying - As above
12.00 MX2 Race 1 25 plus 1
12.45 MX1 Race 1 25 plus 1
13.30 Support race 1 15 plus 1
14.00 British Rider Shootout open to UK Passport Holders
14.45 Support race 2 15 plus 1
15.15 MX2 Race 2 25 plus 1
16.00 MX1 Race 2 25 plus 1

Entries for the event are still available to ACU Adult Expert Licence holders so if you fancy a ride with some of the top GP riders in the World get in touch with Gary Ford on 07966 367456 or e-mail ford542@btinternet.com.