Team GB ready for Coupe de l’Avenir

Great Britain will head to the Coupe de l’Avenir event this weekend. The riders that were chosen to represent the country are Liam Garland (350), Liam Knight (250) and Callum Green (125). However, Liam Knight hasn’t been able to use his race bike for this event which is a massive shame. This has meant that they have needed to change their MX2 rider, Josh Gilbert will now ride for his country this weekend.

Liam Garland started the year off in the MX1 British championship class and was able to score some points in what was a very strong class, in my opinion the strongest it has been in years. Liam then rode a 250 machine at the end of the season but he has experience on the bigger bike from the start of the year that will help him this weekend.

Young prospect, Josh Gilbert has had a solid year in the British championship. He ended up fifteenth in the series, not bad at all for a privateer. He was fifteenth in the British Championship despite missing a few rounds as there were no gearboxes in the UK for 250 Husqvarna’s. Gilbert clearly has talent as MVRD spotted his potential as he was with him during his youth career. Gilbert could be one rider to make a breakthrough within the next few years.

One rider to burst onto the scene this year is Callum Green. He competed in the BYMX 125 championship and the MXY2 series. He impressed in the MXY2 championship competing on his 125 machine against the 250’s which is never easy, he ended up ninth in the championship which is quite impressive. The BYMX 125 championship came right down to the wire but Green clinched the title by just four points over Todd Ritchie. It was a good year for Green, he will be one to watch over the coming years to see if he can adapt to the 250 machine when he makes the move.

Last year, Jeff Perrett was the team manager of the GB team but due to a long year being on the road, he has decided to spend some time with his family. This mean that Dave Garland has taken over the reign and will lead the team this weekend.

GB will also send a 65cc and an 85cc team. The 65cc riders selected our:

Charlie Heyman
Kieran Boughen
Alfie Jones

The 85cc riders selected our:

Rossi Beard
Sam Nunn
Josh Peters

Liam Garland: “I am very happy to be representing team GB. I had so much fun at the event last year, the whole atmosphere and track is amazing.  We have a good team this year so we will be looking to go slightly better than last year and get on the podium.”

Callum Green: “I’m thrilled to be picked to ride for my country and I want to make the best out of this brilliant opportunity”

Dave Garland: “After narrowly missing out on a podium last year, we are going to this year’s event with a very strong team and I’m confident we will be at the sharp end in all three classes.  Last year Charlie Heyman was a front runner in the 65cc class and being joined this year by both Alfie Jones and Kiean Boughen will ensure he has team mates around him to help fight riders of the calibre of Belgium’s Liam Everts and the European 65 champion and vice-champion representing Latvia, Edvards Bidzans and Karlis Alberts Reisulis.  In the 85cc class we have three riders in Rossi Beard, Sam Nunn and Josh Peters who have all won races at National level this year and will relish the opportunity to go up against the best in Europe.  In the Open class where each team has a 125 an MX2 and an MX1 rider in the same race we have again selected 3 riders capable of racing at the sharp end.  Our 125cc rider Callum Green who is the British Youth 125 champion will be up against Belgium’s European 125 champion Jago Geerts, a challenge I’m sure he will be looking forward to.  In MX2 we have Josh Gilbert who has just ended the season 15th overall in the British Championship and with some solid rides behind him this year will have some familiar names joining him including GP regular Alvin Ostlund.  Our MX1 rider Liam Garland has moved up a class after representing the team last year in MX2 and will be looking to improve on an impressive 4th place finish in the event last year where again last year’s champions Belgium have retained the Open winner Daymond Martens.  We are all looking forward to representing our country and will be doing our best to bring back the trophy.”

Article: Andy McKinstry

Pic: Elliot Spence