Race Report Rounds 9 & 10: Twisted Oaks
2025 Schwalbe British 4X Series Finals – Twisted Oaks
Domination by Bown and wins shared by Hudson and Forsyth
The 2025 Schwalbe British 4X Series finals took place at the incredible Twisted Oaks Bike Park in Ipswich at the weekend where the 2025 Series Champions would be crowned.
This track is one of the most flowing 4X race tracks in the UK. With a great mix of rhythm sections, multi lines and technical sections, this track is loved by amateurs and elites.
With the track being just a couple of miles away from the nearest beach this was also an excuse for the riders to arrive a little earlier than usual to enjoy the idyllic setting that this unique track has. The open practice session on Friday was busy as riders sessioned the sections working out the best lines for racing.
Saturday Round 9:
Saturday morning and the weather was perfect. Blue skies and low wind. Wind forecasts were pretty bad for Saturday but it avoided the racing! The track was in perfect condition and it was time to go racing.
The senior women had a new face in town. E-Bike Enduro World Champion George Swift from New Zealand wanted to race some 4X as her Enduro season had ended. Taking 2 wins and a second in her motos she was clearly in the mood to continue her dominant Enduro form from 2025!
There was a shock in the semi final when series leader Katherine Byng failed to qualify, crossing the finish line in 3rd. She rebounded well to take the win in the small final to give her 5th for the day and he final step on the podium.
In the final it was George Swift, Elizabeth Bown, Silvi Vargas and Katherine Oldfield in the gate. The gate dropped in the final and Bown just got the holeshot ahead of Swift. Through the top corners Swift challenged with her technical skills diving inside looking to make the pass. But Bown was able to hold the lead and on the lower sections began to pull a lead. Behind, Vargas was holding off Oldfield. They battled all the way to the finish line but it was Bown from Swift, Vargas in 3rd with Oldfield in 4th.
In the Elite Mens, the overall series title was still up for grabs between Ian Forsyth and Dan Cay.
In the semi finals, there was a huge twist when Dan Cay crashed out and did not qualify for the final. He also could not take the win in the small final, when Dan Wagstaff continued his great form this year, taking the win and 5th for the day with Cay behind taking 6th for the day.
In the final it was Connor Hudson, Ian Forsyth, Tom Bell and Reece Hoggatt. The gate dropped and Hudson made his trademark fast start. He was able to hold the lead through the tricky first turns with last years senior champion Hoggatt fighting in 2nd. Forsyth was diving inside but the move did not work and allowed Bell to move through into 3rd. It was action packed but at the finish line Hudson took the win from Hoggatt, Bell and Forsyth. It was a sight to see these 4 riders at full gas. They were all going so fast.
Other notable performances came from Jake Hart taking the win in Juniors, Esme Ward taking another win in 13-16 women and the battle that always happens in Youth was won this time by Jono Harradine.
However the biggest crowd favourites were the rippers! 7-9 and 10-12 classes were the stars of the day. The young boys and girls put on an incredible show with 42 riders racing rippers categories. Evie Knight and Ned Wills were victorious in the 7-9’s whilst Freya Harries and Marcus Mullen took the wins in 10-12’s.
Round 9 Full Results: https://our.sqorz.com/org/british4x/event/68cc50404436f43430d358c9/classes
Sunday Round 10. ‘The Finals’
Round 10 was held on Sunday and it was Finals day. The culmination of the 2025 Schwalbe British 4X Series and the crowning of the Series Champions.
Senior female and once again it was the Elizabeth Bown show. She went unbeaten all day and showed the 4X World why she is so dominant in BMX. It was great to see her having so much fun at British 4X Series. Katherine Oldfield took the win in the small final to give her 5th for the day.
In the final Bown went up against Katherine Byng, Annalise Cadman Carpenter and Silvi Vargas. The gate dropped and Bown launched into the lead, taking the win from start to finish. Katherine Byng rode fantastic all day to take 2nd position and wrap up the 2025 Series title with Annalise Cadman Carpenter in 3rd and Silvi Vargas in 4th.
In the overall standings, Katherine Byng took the title with Silvi Vargas 2nd, Katherine Oldfield 3rd, Elizabeth Bown 4th and Annalise Cadman Carpenter in 5th.
Elite Male and it was all to play for. Dan Cay had to go unbeaten all day to win the title. Ian Forsyth needed to make the final to claim the overall. It all cam unstuck in the 2nd moto for Cay who crashed out and with it, his hopes for the overall title. That mean’t Forsyth had it in the bag and released the nerves for the day!
In the Small Final, it was awesome to see John Lillingstone take the win and 5th for the day. John is local to Twisted Oaks and has worked hard to make sure the track and new start gate was ready.
In the final final of the year, it was Connor Hudson, Reece Hoggatt, Ian Forsyth and Dan Wagstaff in the gate. The gate dropped and it was Connor Hudson with the holeshot. Through the early turns Forsyth made his move and took the lead. Hoggatt was locked in a battle for 3rd with Wagstaff. Forsyth rode a flawless lap and extended his lead all the way. Across the line it was Forsyth, Hudson, Hoggatt and Wagstaff.
The win was enough for Forsyth to clinch the 2025 Elite Mens Overall Champion Title. Dan Cay finished 2nd with Dan Wagstaff 3rd, Tom Bell 4th and Lucas Rose in 5th.
Just like Saturday the rippers all put on an amazing show for the huge crowds with Evie Knight and Seb Perry taking the wins in 7-9 and Freya Harries and Marcus Mullen taking the wins in 10-12.
Jake Hart rounded off an incredible year taking the win in Junior whilst the year long battle in youth saw Jack Davey taking the win in the final round.
Kingsley Mears took the win in Masters and with it securing the overall title from Dave Richardson on count back. David Sibley was back and took the win in Masters 40 with Martin Ogden dominating Masters 50.
Round 10 Full Results: https://our.sqorz.com/org/british4x/event/68cc515e1c407b49508661ea/classes
A huge thank you to all the riders who competed in the 2025 Schwalbe British 4X Series Powered by British Cycling.
Also huge thank you to the commissaries, marshals, officials, start team, medics and venues for helping the events run flawlessly all year.
Thank you also goes to our series sponsors: Schwalbe, USE, Motul, DMR, Bikestow, Jackery and Surf & Turf. Without you all we could not run the series. Thank you.
2026 plans, dates and venues will be announced soon. But rest assured, the series will be bigger and better again in 2026. We can’t wait to see you all on the gate again at round 1 to compete in the most fun, action packed cycling event ever seen. 4X.
4 Times The Fun.
See you in 2026.
2025 Overall Series Champions:
7-9 Rippers Women: Evie Knight
7-9 Rippers Open: Leo Britz
10-12 Rippers Women: Olivia Webb
10-12 Rippers Open: Marcus Mullen
Juvenile Open: Harry Stephens
13-16 Women: Esme Ward
Youth Open: Jack Davey
Junior Open: Jake Hart
Senior Open: Izak Williams
30+ Women: Claire Mardell
Masters 30: Kingsley Mears
Masters 40: Matthew Hillyard
Masters 50: Matthew Pratley
17-29 Female: Katherine Byng
Elite Male: Ian Forsyth
Full Overall Series Results here: https://our.sqorz.com/org/british4x/series/67d6f0171b5cce37cdfc97e0/classes
Photos by Ben Lister and Dean Lowe