The reigning 450cc indoor champ, Tom Church has got his sights firmly set on the top step of the podium when the 2013 Arenacross series signs off at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on February 10.
Although now retired from top-flight motocross, TC is a safe bet to be running near the front with his silky-smooth skills and technical talents essential weapons in an Arenacross racer’s arsenal.
“I really want to defend my title again,” says Tom, a member of the fabled Marshfield MX Mafia. “It was tough last year but I managed to do it and it could be even tougher this year with the line-up but we will see. I started training again about a month ago and riding and I’m really enjoying it. I will start AX practice next week and hopefully also use the facility in Wheeldon closer to the event.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back into racing AX. I think it’s really important that we have a series in the UK, racing in major arenas across the country. I think the sport needs it at the moment to hopefully attract new sponsors and bring new people to the sport.”
A former youth champion back in the day before the UK boasted any sort of indoor series, TC’s aware just how important an Arenacross series is for developing our young talent.
“It’s great for the youth riders to have the opportunity to race the arenas in front of the big teams, get a feel for AX and hopefully bring some of them on for the future.
“As I raced Matt’s events back in 2001 I’m well aware of how he runs events and I can’t wait to get into it. I was just starting out with indoor racing then so it’s great to finish with Matt running it again. It’s always a great atmosphere indoors – hopefully the crowd will get behind me and I can get the win.”
