NORA92 season finale delivers racing right down to the line.
The chequered flag has fallen on the 2026 NORA92 British Cup, with the season finale delivering close racing and a fitting crescendo to the championship, while bringing the curtain down on Merlo UK’s first season supporting the MX1 and MX2 ‘Powered by Merlo’ classes.
Engines roared as the finale got underway at Gossington Motor Park for the 2026 NORA92 British Cup on 29-30 August. The Gloucestershire venue was a new addition to the NORA92 calendar and, despite being relatively new itself, was hosting national racing for the first time. With around 280 riders competing and titles still up for grabs, there was all to race for in a finale with little room for error.
Fresh from the commentary box, Mike Rich shares: “Gossington was a fantastic setting for the grand finale. There was a real sense of occasion, and the racing was intense throughout the weekend.”
Championships decided down to the line
The Merlo-backed MX1 class provided one of the weekend’s headline results, with Team GB representative Josh Gilbert taking the overall victory, followed by Dan Thornhill and Bradley Wheeler. For Wheeler, third place was enough to secure the MX1 NORA92 Domestic Drains British Cup championship title. Meanwhile in the MX2 class, Alfie Calvert completed a maximum-win weekend to take the overall victory, ahead of Harvey James, with wildcard rider Max Smith completing the podium.
Nail-biting racing extended well beyond the two Merlo-powered classes, with Rich adding: “The finale was incredible. There was a change of leadership going down to the final corner and literally on the line in some of our youth groups.
“The women’s class was strongly contested, while the veterans’ championship went right down to the wire. The eventual champion only discovered during the presentation that he had secured the title by nine points! It was an exceptionally close finale across the board,” Rich continues.
Photo credit: TPMX Media
A community away from the office
For Merlo UK, Gossington marked the culmination of its first season as headline sponsor of the MX1/MX2 ‘Powered by Merlo’ classes, as well as another opportunity to introduce dealers and customers to the exhilarating NORA92 environment. The partnership has given Merlo UK a different setting in which to connect with people across the agriculture and construction sectors, with the informal atmosphere creating opportunities for conversations that might not happen in a traditional business environment.
Among those attending was Alan Barnes, Managing Director of construction dealership MSM-DRH, based in Worcester. Having joined the Merlo dealer network in March 2026, the finale gave Barnes and his team an opportunity to experience the NORA92 British Cup first-hand, as well as to meet the wider Merlo community and learn more about the partnership from a dealer’s perspective.
“I used to be a mechanic for a motocross team about 30 years ago, so it was great to get back and see it. It was a fantastic event, and even with the rain on Saturday, the racing was brilliant,” says Barnes.
For Barnes, the weekend was also a chance to spend time with colleagues and family while experiencing first-hand the community Merlo UK has become part of through its support of the championship. “If there was another round, I wouldn’t hesitate to take customers. Seeing how well it was organised, I’d definitely do it again. It was very nicely done,” adds Barnes.
Since joining the Merlo UK dealer network earlier this year, Barnes and the MSM-DRH team have begun working more closely with the Merlo UK team. For Barnes, that relationship has already made a positive impression: “They’re a small team, but they’re very proactive and they’re great people to work with. They’re approachable, they know what they’re talking about and they’re very attentive, which makes a big difference when you’re building a new partnership,” says Barnes.
Driving the ‘Courage to Dare’
Over the course of the season, Merlo UK has moved from being a sponsor at the track to becoming part of the NORA92 community. “Merlo has been welcomed into the community with open arms, and I know the British Cup Series is very appreciative of what Merlo UK have done to support it,” says Rich.
For Rich, there is a natural connection between the championship and Merlo’s own approach to performance and pushing boundaries. “One of Merlo’s core values is ‘Courage to Dare’, and I think you see that same attitude in motocross. It’s about having the courage to push yourself, the intensity to perform and the determination to keep going,” he says.
Waving the Merlo flag trackside at the finale was Merlo UK’s National Aftersales Manager, Robin Cooch, who saw a clear reflection of the company’s own spirit in the riders. “Every single rider I saw on the track, from the very youngest racers right through to the veterans, was braver than I’ve ever been. They seem to have no fear, and that really strikes a chord with Merlo. It reflects the ethos of our founder, Amilcare Merlo: ‘Don’t be afraid to try something different’ because you never know what you might get from it.”
Not over till it’s over
With the final races complete and the championship trophies handed out, the 2026 NORA92 British Cup has drawn to a close. But perhaps Rich’s assessment of the weekend sums it up best: “It’s not over till it’s over.”
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