A new chapter awaits Ben Edwards in 2027, with the Scottish rider recently announced as part of the newly formed D70 Honda Racing team, spearheaded by former Grand Prix rider Stuart Flockhart. The new outfit will compete in the British Championship, bringing a fresh Scottish presence to the paddock and offering Edwards the opportunity to make the switch from KTM to Honda.
After a challenging comeback from a wrist injury, Edwards has enjoyed a positive 2026 season and currently sits eighth in the British Championship standings heading into the final round. With a new bike, a familiar team environment and the experience of Flockhart behind him for the future, the Scot is looking at continuing his progression and take on more international competition in 2027.
We caught up with Edwards as he discusses how the deal came together, his first impressions of the Honda, working alongside Flockhart and his teammate, and the benefits of having a Scottish team around him. He also reflects on his 2026 season, his first MXGP experience at Foxhill, and his plans to compete in four or five GPs next year, with sand tracks and the EMX Open at Lommel among the possibilities.
With winter training in Spain also on the cards, Edwards is excited about what lies ahead as he prepares for an important new stage in his career.
GateDrop: Ben, the news dropped during the week there that you’ve got a big opportunity next year. First of all, how did it all come about getting a ride with Stuart Flockhart who’s created a new team to take on the British Championship and it’s pretty cool you’ve got a Scottish connection there?
Edwards: Yeah, I am really looking forward to it. It kind of came about, to be honest, it’s happened quite quick. It was only last month Stuart came to me asking what my plans were for 2027 and to be honest I spoke to a few teams here and there but nothing really suited me as good as what Stuart offered. It’s really cool, it’s a Scottish setup and I’m looking forward to also changing the bike. I’ve been on KTM for a while now and I’m just looking for a change and hopefully can keep progressing and just go for it.
GateDrop: Just on Stuart Flockhart, I remember him racing GPs, do you remember him racing?
Edwards: I do but I was really young. He actually came to some prize giving’s of the club meetings and handed out the trophies and that. It’s really cool to have a rider like that, he’s going to be there with us at the races. I feel like that’s what I need, just a little bit of guidance even if it’s line choice and stuff like that. It could make a huge difference.
GateDrop: And obviously you’ve been racing British Championships for a long time but having a Scottish team, how much is that going to help? Having that familiarity and being able to stay in Scotland as well is probably going to be good for you?
Edwards: Yeah, for sure. So my teammate, I’m actually good mates with him already before the whole team came about and I was good mates with Stuart too. To be honest, it couldn’t go any better team-wise because at the end of the day, it’s your friends and we’re all going to help each other out and just try and do the best for each other.
GateDrop: Well, you rode the Honda recently there I see, just how was the first impression? So obviously it’ll take a while to get used to it, but what was it like getting it on it for a practice day?
Edwards: I’ve been KTM for years and it’s quite a big change. Obviously a Japanese bike is so much different from the frame to the suspension, to the engine. I think it’ll suit my style better. I’m more of a smooth, kind of chilled out rider. I think it’ll suit me pretty good and I can’t wait to get the bike set up. I’ve done a few laps on Stuart’s Honda, he’s actually got a 2023. I’ve done a few laps there on Wednesday and really enjoyed it straight away. I am really looking forward to it.
GateDrop: I mean, coming from Scotland, when you were growing up, I mean, who did you kind of look up to? You’ve got Shaun Simpson there, a few other fast guys. Are you hoping to be the next generation and example for the next fast Scottish guys coming up?
Edwards: I’ll give it a good go. For sure, we had Shaun Simpson and Billy MacKenzie, there’s been a few really good Scottish guys and also Stuart. I’m not sure I’ll achieve as much as them, but I’d like to at least give it a good go for Scotland. The talent kind of comes in waves and to be honest, it’s quite a tricky one to explain but no, I’ve just got to try my best and if I can help any other kids coming through like my teammate, I will give it a good go. I’ll also help him out too.
GateDrop: Just on your British Championship season, how would you reflect on it so far? You’ve had some good rides but obviously it’s not easy, especially when you’ve got three very fast GP guys. I know Conrad doesn’t race GPs but he’s a GP speed guy, they’re fast at the front!
Edwards: Definitely, I’d say the top four are in a different league. They’re obviously racing the majority of the GP’s and stuff. But to be honest, I’m happy with my year, there’s still one round to go and I’m lying eighth in the championship. It’s quite close between sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth. Coming off an injury last year, a lot of people forget that I had quite a really bad wrist injury that was tougher to come back from than what I thought it was going to be. So no, I’m happy. I just missed out on the Scottish Championship last weekend, which I’m gutted about but no, I’m really proud that I gave it a good go. I’ll just end the last couple of races on a good note.
GateDrop: Just on the Scottish Championship, even though you would have loved to win it, I mean, is it good that the likes of Tristan Purdon are doing that championship? It gets more eyes on it. Even though you didn’t win it, which you’d love to do, would you still rather those guys come and race it because it’ll help you improve as well, even if you might not win the title?
Edwards: Definitely. I just like to race the best guys all the time, even if it’s just practicing in the week with them. Racing them, I think it’s definitely a good thing. Obviously, it takes some prize money and that away from you, but it just shows where you need to get to, where the level’s at and I think it’s great, the more good riders that come, the better.
GateDrop: You raced your first MXGP race this year at Foxhill, just talk me through that experience. I mean, the British is fast and then you go to Foxhill and it’s like, wow, it’s even faster…
Edwards: Yeah, that was unbelievable. It was good to get my feet wet there and just see again where the levels are. It’s actually unbelievable. You know, you can stand at the side all you want, sometimes you look and think, oh, they’re not even going that fast, but when you’re riding the track with them, it’s a big eye opener. I’d love to do a few more because I think that’s the only way to really improve from them guys is just try and do as many GPs as you can. With Stuart having raced GPs in the past, I think we’re going to try and do as much as we can next year over in Europe. So that’ll be cool.
GateDrop: Just on the British GP, a lot of people were skeptical, me as well at the start, but you have to give these things a chance. And obviously it was an amazing weekend. I thought it was unbelievable. Just on the track, wow, it was class!
Edwards: It was a really good weekend. Saturday morning, it was quite wet and they put a lot of water down, but Sunday was a much better day. I think all the riders enjoyed the track. Obviously, there were a few big crashes, but you’ll get that anywhere. But no, I think all the riders liked it. It was a world-class track too.
GateDrop: Just on GPs next year, do you know yet how many you’re going to do or is it just a wait and see? And I mean, how excited are you to be in the paddock more regularly and also race your first GP outside England?
Edwards: Yeah, definitely. That’ll be good just the whole buzzing being at the GP’s. At Foxhill there I was just parked across from HRC and just seeing how they work and do things is unbelievable. I definitely want to do at least four or five. I’ll probably try and choose more sand tracks because that’s kind of my forte. I prefer the deep sand and even the EMX Open at Lommel is an option. I think that would suit me really well to go and give that a go. It’s early days yet, but definitely by the new year we’ll decide where we’re going to go.
GateDrop: And have you got a plan for overwinter yet or is it all too early? Obviously it was just announced last week, so you might not know yet, but Scottish weather probably isn’t the greatest over winter…
Edwards: I actually went to Spain last January for a few weeks and my teammate actually, his Dad has a place over in Spain so that’ll be really handy. I think we’re going to try and go over there for the whole of January and then come back for the first British and things like that. But no, training in the sun is always good.
