Arenacross UK was the first major Championship to allow electric motorcycles to compete side-by-side with combustion engines, and the Stark Future team brought its clean image and potent machinery to the top of the game as a result. Their 2024 British AX Champion, Jack Brunell, returns alongside Brummie battler Steven Clarke for 2026!
The ever-popular Londoner Brunell lines up for his third straight AX Tour on the electric machine, a bike which he has always stated suits his style perfectly. Barely ever using the clutch on a traditional engine, his smooth throttle technique and experience of Arenacross helped to bring the Stark Varg racer to instant success. After a decade of trying, Jack won his first ever AX Main Event in Manchester at the first event of 2024, and never lost the red plate on his way to taking an emotional title win that season.
“Coming to the final round was very stressful, and I felt the pressure, but me and the team managed to do it!” Dedicating the title to his late father, and holding aloft a “10 Years of AX” trophy alongside his new #1 plate, typified the emotion of winning a Championship he had been trying to win for so long.
Step in St Blazey
Stark themselves have recently had to dig deep in the budget in order to compete in the World Supercross Championship, a globe-trotting series that crosses five continents in as many races, and Jack is looking forward to the developments made in that arena – “The new bike has been completely updated in terms of its frame and geometry, although the engine is essentially the same unit.” Testing in Spain after Christmas will have told Jack all he needs to know about this weapon he has holstered ready for AX 2026.
Following WSX, Stark Future have turned to one of their most successful main dealers, St Blazey from Cornwall, to organise the nuts and bolts of their AX effort this season.
“Stark are fantastic to deal with,” says St Blazey boss Steve Annear, “I talk to Sebastien Tortelli every month about where the company is, and you can even get speak to CEO Anton Wass directly with developments and feedback from customers. No other manufacturer can do that for you, and they have moved forward from nowhere in an amazingly short time frame.” The Swedish firm are pushing to be involved in many national outdoor Championships across Europe, and have even announced that SuperEnduro is the next arena they will be moving into. All that being said, Arenacross saw their first big success, and they will certainly maintain a presence in the Tour for the foreseeable future.
From Midlands to the Middle East
Joining Brunell on the team for 2026 will be Birmingham’s own Steven Clarke, an experienced rider at the top of the sport for over 15 years, who took the 2014 European 250cc Championship, and has even scored top five positions in 250 AMA Supercross competition.
“Working with Steve is so easy,” adds Annear. “He joined us for Abu Dhabi when we had injury problems with other riders, and him and his family were a delight, got on with the job, and we had no hesitation in taking him on for 2026.” With the opening round being very much in his home town, ‘Clarkey’ will certainly enjoy some vocal crowd support as he kicks off the series with his customary aggressive style.
While Brunell acknowledges that Dean Wilson will be “very tough to beat”, his aims are simple. “I need to try and podium every single race, and see where it gets me. That’s how I did it before, and who knows what can happen?” Rapidly approaching his 37th birthday, and with a recent move to a top position in the family business, the question has to be asked about how much longer the fire will burn in the former Champ. “As soon as I stop enjoying it, I’ll call it a day, but I still love it. I fought through an ankle injury from last year to line up again, so I’m not done yet!”
The silent bikes are here to stay, and Arenacross is proud to have them with us. With characters like Jack and Steven onboard, any success will draw crowd noise over and above any the bikes could ever make!
