Martin Barr and Lewis Spratt put down marker at opening round of 2026 Arenacross Tour in Birmingham

Reigning Champion Dean Wilson (Armor Vision Powered by St Blazey Honda) was the fastest in qualifying and continued his winning streak with an unbeaten performance, putting the Scottish rider 20 points ahead of Dylan Woodcock (Dirt Store Triumph) and Stark Future rider Jack Brunell before the championship heads to Belfast from February 13-14.

Barr was pleased with his first outing on the Armour Vision Powered by St Blazey Honda, finishing the evening in 11th place overall in the Pro class. The Ballyclare rider was participating in his first competitive race since last year's Motocross of Nations.

In his opening race, he made a good start from the back row, fighting his way into fourth before eventually taking the chequered flag in fifth.

Barr said: “It was my first start off the gate and I showed a bit of speed, and was really happy with race one.”

In his second race, Barr was again in the mix, running inside the top seven before being taken out five laps from the finish and crossing the line in 12th place. Barr made a strong start in his final race and was on course for a good result at the halfway point.

“I made a few mistakes and dropped down the order in the closing stages, then three laps from the flag, three of us went into a corner together, and I touched Steven Clarke’s back wheel and crashed,” explained Barr, who finished in 11th.

It was a hectic weekend for the local man, who was balancing his own racing alongside helping his five-year-old son, Martin Jr, race for the first time in the AX eMini class.

Barr was thrilled with his son's debut race. “He loved it, ending the night with a smile on his face and, like me, can’t wait to get racing in Belfast,” he said.

Other local riders Zack McCorkell and Zach Elliot finished 12th and 13th overall in the AX eMini class.

Lewis Spratt made his debut on the Jet Products Yamaha in the AX Pro Am class and had a fantastic night, finishing sixth overall.

“It was my first ride on the new bike and it was a bit of a shock to the system switching to the 4-stroke 250, but it went surprisingly well,” smiled the Omagh teenager.

Spratt had an impressive qualifying session, taking two seconds off his free practice time, which left him with the third gate pick for his qualifying heat.

He was lying third in his heat before having a big crash over the ‘whoops’. By the flag, though, he managed to battle back to sixth.

Spratt had to start from the back row in his first main event and fought his way through from last to eighth. This gave him a front row start for race two, and he put it to good use, finishing fifth.

“I’m over the moon!" he said. “The bike is flying, I am really gelling with it and can’t wait for Belfast.”

Castlederg schoolgirl Erin Deazley rode her 65 KTM to a ninth-place finish overall in the AX Mini class. It was the eleven-year-old's second season in Arenacross, and she was pleased with her performance in Birmingham.

“I was pretty consistent, and my times were improving race on race,” she said. “I just need to get my starts dialled in now for Belfast.”

Glenavy’s Mathew Kelly-Edwards finished 11th overall in the AX Supermini class thanks to a ninth in race one and 12th in his second outing.