When I was a nipper, motocross was my thing. Most weekends I?d be riding somewhere. And if I was lucky, I?d get to ride somewhere on a weekday after school, too. But it?s safe to say my motocross career never took off. So when my old mate Johnny persuaded me that entering a round of the British Amateur MX Championship would be a good idea, I ought to have known better.

But unfortunately, I?m very easily lead (just read any of my school reports) and quickly gave into peer pressure. Before I knew it I was in the workshop, prepping my trusty old Honda CR 250 R for its first competitive motocross outing in as long as I can remember. I say ?old?, it?s not quite a classic yet, but being a 2003 model, it?s hardly at the cutting edge of off-road technology; not that that would make a big difference to me.
Old Smoker

It?s a 250cc, single cylinder, two-stroke motocross bike with more power than anyone needs on dirt. I?m not sure if I?d be quicker on a modern four stroke, but I don?t really care. I really, really like the old smoker.

Anyway, the race meeting was at FatCat Motoparc which, as luck would have it, I?m reasonably familiar with. And it?s only an hour or so away from home, which is nice. It?s a very sandy track which has a reputation for getting fairly rough? and it lived up to expectations.

After the first 15 minute practice session, I immediately knew I was out of my depth. Not just with the track conditions, but with the level of competition too. Th...