Round Two of the 2026 Motul ACU British Motocross Championship continued this weekend at Preston Docks in the North of England. Gabriel SS24 KTM team arrived at the round full of confidence, aiming to build on their momentum and further demonstrate their strength as genuine race contenders.

Gyan lined up in Group 2 qualifying early on Sunday morning although the circuit sits on a sand base, the track was hard-packed and fast. Gyan quickly settled into a rhythm and posted a lap time of 1:55 which placed him second in his group. The result secured fourth gate pick.

Oriol was out next for his qualifying session on a track he had never ridden before. Despite the new circuit he adapted quickly and showed good speed from the outset. Oriol set his fastest lap on the opening lap which secured fourth gate pick heading into the races and put him in a strong position for the motos.

Heading to the gate for the first MX2 race of the day, Gyan was looking to build on the momentum from his Moto win at Round One. He got a strong jump out of the gate and entered the first corner inside the top five, however coming out of the opening turn he was squeezed wide which dropped him outside the top ten. Gyan pushed hard on the opening lap and quickly worked his way up to ninth beginning to close in on Billy Askew and Davy Pootjes ahead.

With the track proving difficult to pass on he rode a smart race, putting together consistent laps and gradually making progress through the field. He eventually moved up to sixth place and was closing in on the top five as the race entered the final stages with five minutes plus two laps remaining. Unfortunately, the race was red flagged bringing proceedings to an early end. As the results were taken back one lap Gyan was classified in seventh position which is where he was credited with finishing the race.

MX1 Race One saw Oriol got off to a difficult start coming around the opening lap out side the top 10. He demonstrated his speed and determination making an impressive charge through the field by the end of lap two he had already worked his way up to sixth place. Oriol kept the momentum going and by lap five had taken control of the race lead with five-time world champion Jeffrey Herlings in second and Conrad Mewse third.

Oriol also set his fastest lap of the race looking comfortable at the front while putting together strong laps. Around the halfway point Herlings managed to make a pass for the lead which then saw Oriol involved in a battle for second place with Mewse. As the race entered its closing stages Oriol began to struggle slightly to match their pace and wasn’t feeling fully comfortable. Despite this he held on to secure third place at the finish which was enough to move him into the championship lead, holding a two-point advantage over Ben Watson heading into the second moto.

Heading into Moto Two Gyan was still in the fight to retain the championship red plate. Getting another strong jump out of the gate he quickly placed himself in the mix at the front of the field. With every lap Gyan’s pace continued to improve and he consistently posted some of the fastest lap times on track. After working hard through the opening laps he fought his way up to fifth place and began closing the gap to Billy Askew and Joe Brooks ahead.

The battle tightened as the gap between the three riders dropped to around one to two seconds. As the race entered its final stages Gyan looked for an opportunity to pass Askew for fourth, but with the track becoming drier and more difficult to pass on finding a clear line proved challenging. Despite pushing hard to the finish he was unable to make the move and crossed the line in fourth place, capping off another strong ride.

Oriol lined up for the final MX1 race of the day with his sights set firmly on taking home the championship red plate. This time he got a much better start than in Moto One coming through the opening laps in fifth position, placing himself directly behind championship rival Ben Watson.

Within the first few laps Oriol made a clean and decisive pass on Adam Sterry moving himself closer to Watson and firmly back into podium contention. From there Oriol maintained a strong and consistent pace keeping his lap times tight and pushing hard as he searched for a way through. For the next ten laps Oriol applied constant pressure to Watson, experimenting with different lines and testing every opportunity to make a move. Despite several attempts the pass wouldn’t quite stick as the pair battled intensely toward the end of the 15-lap moto. When the chequered flag fell Oriol crossed the line in fourth place, just 0.7 seconds away from third after a determined ride that went right down to the final moments.

Gyan Doensen: “Results don’t show but I was riding well at the second round of the British Championship. I had a bad start in the first moto but came back good, then unfortunately the race was red flagged and I got docked back to 7th. Second moto I had a better start but it was difficult to pass and I finished the moto in 4th. I am happy to be able to ride my speed again in the races.”

Oriol Oliver: “I had mixed feelings on Sunday, I was quite happy with my rhythm, I had a bad start first moto and then arm pump in the middle of moto which made it difficult for a good result. I managed 3rd in race one and 4th in race two. Anyway, it’s nice to race with fast riders like Jeffrey , it’s another race done on the 450SXF and feel like I am improving every weekend, so let’s keep it like this!”

Shaun Simpson - Team Manager: “Cold and windy Preston Docks for round two of the British Championship. I am disappointed that we didn’t have podiums from both riders but we are still in the hunt for both MX1 and MX2 titles. We need to capitalise on passing opportunities during these races going forward. Still work to do, but we are keen to get back to it this week and work hard ahead of the next MXGP this weekend in Sardinia.”

Overall, it was a strong weekend for the team with both riders showing solid pace across both motos. Gyan scored 14 points in moto 1 and 18 points in moto 2 securing fifth overall for the round. In MX1 Oriol finished the weekend tied on points with Ben Watson with both riders scoring 38 points after 3–4 moto finishes, however Watson took third overall on the day. In the championship standings Gyan may have lost the red plate in MX2 but remains firmly in the fight. He now sits second in the standings just six points behind Charlie Hayman, with plenty of racing still to come this season. The MX1 championship battle is shaping up to be even tighter. Oriol remains tied on 85 points with Ben Watson while Conrad Mewse sits third just three points behind, setting up an exciting fight as the championship continues.

A huge thank you to KTM and all of our valued sponsors for their continued support throughout the season. Your backing, belief, and commitment to the team allow us to keep pushing forward at every round both on and off the track. The team now makes its way to Riola Sardo, Sardinia for round 4 of the MXGP and round 3 of the EMX250 championships. Riola Sardo is known for it’s deep sand and demanding conditions, so it’s sure to be a challenging but exciting weekend of racing.

All the action takes place on Sunday, 12th April

Photos: JHMXOfiical