Spratt and McCullough claim prestigious wins

LEWIS Spratt enjoyed a memorable weekend in England where he shone at the prestigious Hawkstone International motocross event, the day after clinching his first ever Arenacross UK Tour race win at Wembley Arena.

The 15-year-old Omagh racer, who only made the step up to 125cc machinery this year, has been in excellent form indoors since the start of the Arenacross UK Tour and he ended that part of his 2024 campaign in the best possible way.

Going into the series finale in London, Spratt was second in the AX Futures class but having qualified third he endured a frustrating first race that saw him finish sixth, leaving him with only a four point advantage over his nearest rival Joshua Fletcher Williams. in the overall standings.

Keen to hold onto his second place in the series, the Omagh High School pupil produced the ride of his career so far to claim his first ever race victory in the Arenacross UK Tour. It was a success several years in the making, having competed on 65cc and 85cc machinery before making the step up to a 125 KTM in 2024.

That success meant he not only finished second on the weekend at Wembley Arena, but also second overall in the AX Futures division for the entire series, behind Joel Fisher and ahead of Fletcher Williams. which was an improvement upon his third place in the 85cc big wheel section last year.

Buoyed by that success, he travelled with his family to Hawkstone for the big international motocross event on Sunday.

Again, he proved to be a match for the best riders in the British Isles and Europe on the day, despite his relative inexperience on 125cc machinery.

Castlederg starlet, 15-year-old Cole McCullough won the first race in the class, beating 17-year-old Dutch racer, Kasimir Hindersson into second and Josh Vaul into third, while Spratt, who led during lap one, was 11th with another Tyrone native, Dungiven-based youngster Michael McCullagh 22nd in the massive field of 40 riders.

In race two, Spratt finished an outstanding fifth behind Hinderson, Vaul, Dean Gregoire and Jamie Keith, while Gortin-born McCullagh was 25th and McCullough, who led from the off, was forced to retire with a broken chain on lap two while leading the race.

McCullough also led the way in race three but crashed out on lap two and that left Spratt again the top Tyrone performer by taking seventh with McCullagh 24th.

Those results left Spratt a superb fifth overall and with two podium trophies, while McCullough’s race one victory left him 14th in the final standings.

Having achieved two of his pre-season goals already this year – earning a winner’s plaque in the Arenacross UK Tour and impressing at Hawkstone – Spratt is well set for his Dutch debut in a few weeks time when he will compete in mainland Europe for the first time on his 125 bike.