Grand Prix experience goes indoors
Ben Watson will make his Arenacross British Championship debut with Dirt Store Triumph Racing in 2027. The British rider brings two MX2 Grand Prix victories and MXGP experience into a championship built around short races, compact tracks and six arena nights.
A return almost twenty years in the making
Watson last raced indoors as a youngster on an 85cc motorcycle. His 2027 entry therefore marks a return to the format after almost two decades rather than a continuation of a recent supercross programme. The official announcement frames the series as useful race preparation before the outdoor season.
Six rounds, three cities, one month
The championship opens with two rounds at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham on 6–7 February. Belfast’s O2 Arena hosts rounds three and four on 12–13 February, before the final double-header at P&J LIVE in Aberdeen on 26–27 February.
Dirt Store Triumph adds an established name
Watson will race for the Jon Giffard-managed Dirt Store Triumph operation. The team has confirmed that a second rider will be announced later, but no name is official yet. Euro MX Community therefore records only Watson in the current line-up.
Why the switch is worth watching
Arenacross compresses the start, rhythm sections and passing opportunities into shorter races than outdoor motocross. Watson’s Grand Prix speed is established; adapting it to repeated indoor starts and tight track position is the new test. That contrast is the confirmed sporting story, without predicting results before the first gate drops.
Facts are frozen to the verification date shown above. Any later correction will be added visibly.
Primary source checked internally: Auto-Cycle Union / Arenacross / Dirt Store Triumph Racing.
