It was recently announced that Lennox Dickinson has signed with the Oakleaf Honda team to race the MX2 British Championship and fastest 40 series in the UK.
It will be Dickinson’s rookie season and first year racing with the pros as he is just 15 years old so it’ll be a steep learning curve but also help make him a better rider and improve which will help him for the future.
Dickinson raced the Hawkstone International event and impressed amongst some GP, EMX and British talent. We caught up with him after the event to discuss the season ahead and more.
GateDrop: Lennox, you just raced Hawkstone International in with some big boys and even the MX2 World Champion! Can you talk me through your day – you showed some good pace and results, you must have been happy with how it went?
Dickinson: Yeah, I felt really good in qualifying, the track was really nice in the morning. In the first race I was in a pile up in the first corner and I ended up at the very bottom of it, a back wheel of someone’s bike was spinning on my back which made it hard to get up. Thanks to TMS media he picked the bike off and I managed my way back to 20th. In the second race I came 13th and in the super final I finished 11th in MX2 with a smashed throttle housing. I felt pretty good considering I was on a fully stock bike.
GateDrop: The news has also came out that you’ve signed with Oakleaf Honda for 2024 to race the MX2 British Championship and fastest 40 class. How did the deal all come around?
Dickinson: My dad knew Shaun for a while, and he quickly put a package together for us.
GateDrop: To have the backing of the Oakleaf team behind you, must be a big help? It would be much harder doing it as a privateer…
Dickinson: As of for now we don’t have very many sponsors but I am very very thankful for the ones that I have. The Oakleaf bikes have been proven to be good in the past. CCM Racing and ONE23MX have also been amazing.
GateDrop: Being 15 years old, you haven’t done too many racing so far in your career, but that’s about to change, you’ll be busy this year with so many races (laughs)…
Dickinson: Being 15 years old, I haven’t been allowed to race very many races (laughs).
GateDrop: Over winter what have you done to prepare for the season? Have you mostly been at home preparing or have you gone away?
Dickinson: Over winter I have just been training in Northern Ireland doing as much as I can, without Magilligan Mx Track or Desertmartin Mx the weather would halt any kind of practice. We are thankful for them and fitness wise, Jay McCrum – Fifty One Fit and I have been working together building fitness and strength off the bike. Jay is definitely one of the best out there.
GateDrop: Rookie season and you are only 15 but have you set yourself any goals for 2024?
Dickinson: As of this year I plan to gain experience but also try my best to get the best results I can and finish every race.
GateDrop: Do you have any plans to race in Europe in the near future or even some wildcards in 2024? Cole McCullough has showed it’s the way to go so I hope more riders from Ireland/Northern Ireland take a leaf out of his book…
Dickinson: Yeah I’d definitely love to go to Europe and do some races over there, it would be a very good experience to race on various different circuits. It is really the expense of getting there that is holding us back…
GateDrop: You are going to be really busy but will you try and do a couple Irish/Ulster rounds in 2024 if you can find the time? It would be nice to see you do a couple of races at home…
Dickinson: Yeah, for sure, I’d love to do more races at home. It will be my first year in the adults so it will be something different for me.
Interview: Andy McKinstry
Image: Dean White
