Steve Denton builds what are generally acknowledged by motocross enthusiasts around the world, to be amongst the finest “Twin Shock” and “Evo” motocross bikes on the planet. He is, also, no slouch as a rider, being a regular top ten finisher in the Expert class of the National Twin Shock Race series riding his 1980 Honda CR 250 (the only 250cc machine in the class) against potent 500cc machines and a couple of snarling 630cc four strokes….. Steve was the 2014 250cc class champion but decided to make things more difficult for himself in 2015 by having a go against the big bikes!
The other major change for the 2015 season has definitely had the opposite effect and made things significantly easier! That was the change to Bridgestone’s latest Battlecross tyres. “The best tyres that I’ve ever ridden on” is Steve’s verdict. “The improved grip and feedback from the front end is particularly noticeable and certainly inspires confidence in corners”.
Next on the agenda, on the 12th and 13th of September, is “The Big One”….. The Vets Motocross des Nations at the legendary Farleigh Castle circuit in Wiltshire. Somewhere in the region of six hundred competitors, many of them former World Championship contenders and factory riders, from all corners of the globe, will be thrilling fifteen thousand enthusiastic spectators as they give their all in high speed, spectacular and close fought races to secure the top step of the podium in this highly prestigious international team event for older riders and bikes. It is, in fact, apart from the World Championship round for modern machines, the largest motocross event in Britain.
However, Steve won’t be riding:- He’ll be wearing his Master Technician’s hat as, for the fifth year in succession. Phil Denton Engineering, the company that Steve runs with his father in the small North Wales market town of Llanrwst, will be providing bikes for Team USA and the portents look good for more success this year! Their record to date is certainly pretty impressive:-
In 2011, Steve’s own, very special, 1980 Honda CR 250 was ridden to third place overall by multi US National Champion, Jeff Stanton.
In 2012, former Kawasaki and Honda Factory rider, Ryan Hughes, dominated the event , winning all four motos aboard, again, Steve’s 1980 CR250 and Honda Factory star of the early 1980’s, Chuck Sun, backed him up in the team races and got a podium place in the over 50s class. Chuck was riding a very special machine built for him by Steve – a 1980 Honda CR 250 fitted with CR480 engine. Chuck loved it and declared that it was “just like the factory Honda RC 500 that I had back in the day”.
In 2013, the best of that year’s American visitors, John Dowd, managed a moto win on another PDE Honda CR250 but the Team was just pipped for a podium place, finishing fourth overall.
For 2014, the PDE effort was scaled down to just one bike:- Steve’s own 1980 CR 250. However, ridden by eleven times Vets World Champion and former Yamaha Factory rider and Development Engineer, Doug Dubach, it showed why it’s widely regarded as one of the very best Twin Shock MX machines in the world, by carrying Doug to wins in all four motos and giving him the top step of the the over 50s class podium!
Doug Dubach is returning to Farleigh Castle this year and has requested that he should, again, ride Steve’s bike in the over 50s class. He will be joined by Vets MXdN “new boy”, Todd DeHoop, who will be riding the Ex Chuck Sun PDE Honda CR480 in the under 50s class. As a nineteen year old, Todd was 1988 East Coast 125cc champion and a “Honda of Troy” team rider in the ‘90s. A badly broken leg ended his career in the late 1990s but he has kept himself fit and has recently returned to racing for fun and, at forty six years of age, regularly shows the younger guys the way to the chequered flag!
A podium finish in both twin shock classes is certainly on the cards for the PDE Honda machines. The riders are both superb competitors, the bikes have been prepared to perfection by Steve and they will both have an “extra edge” in the form of the Bridgestone Battlecross tyres!
The Bridgestone Battlecross X20, X30 and X40 are currently all available as part of our amazing trade-only tyre and tube deal, which at present is due to run until the end of 2016. Check out the complete range here.
