London boy Jack Brunell has long been one of the most popular riders on the Arenacross Tour.A heart-on-the-sleeve, emotional character who puts everything he can into this version of off-road motorcycle sport, his cockney accent and wit have endeared him to crowds everywhere.

Coupled with a genuine natural talent and love for indoor racing, the #155 thirty-something has always been a podium contender, but he finally got a dream shot with the factory Stark Future team in 2024, under the management of French Motocross legend and two-time World Champion Sebastien Tortelli.

Jack used the electric weapon to bring home not just his first Main Event victory, but ultimately the title of British Arenacross Champion that he had pursued for so long.It was the first championship for an electric machine against traditional combustion-engine competition, giving Brunell a unique place in motorcycle sporting history.

As with the majority of the riders performing before you in this series, Jack races on a professional level but still has to go to work in the week, as the father of three needs to keep the bills paid for his family as well as train and prepare for one of the most demanding forms of motorsport on Earth. So what is life like for the defending Champion?Has that big gold plate, and beautiful golden axe direct from the owner of Stark itself, made much of a difference in his day-to-day routines?

If motorcycle sport is new to you, the term “full factory” basically means that the rider or team doesn’t buy the bikes, but the manufacturer itself runs a team structure employing the rider to race and show what the bike can do, and therefore stir up some sales!Basically, it’s all set up for the rider to win.Of course, the rider is then under pressure to perform, or he won’t be a factory rider for very long.

For a rider like Jack, who has always either raced his own machinery or for a sponsored team, to be a factory rider is like a dream come true.However, he is also unlike most in that he still continues to work in the week.Why does he put himself through that, and how do Stark feel about that situation?

“The company I work for, Degrees of Comfort Air Conditioning, is very much a family company owned by my father-in-law.I’ve been with them for 20 years, so I’m a big part of the company with fifteen employees, becoming an MD soon with my father-in-law retiring, and I can’t leave all that behind just for the racing.Stark didn’t have to give me the opportunity, but they did.They have Justin Bogle and Jorge Zaragoza testing stuff all the time to improve the bike.I usually come in and check it, say yes or no to any changes, and take it from there.It’s great that I can go straight to the races, and they are ready for me when I get there, it’s a big help.”

So just how hectic is Jack’s life? Any parents will know that having three kids under six is already hectic, without having to both work full-time and maintain a pro racing career!Jack gives us a brief lowdown; “I get up around half four, have breakfast, and drive the half-hour to work, get there about 5:45 and train from six ‘til seven on the machines I have set up there.Then I shower there and get ready for work and get onsite by about 8am – I’m now a site supervisor, but I still like to be onsite and get hands-on with the projects.They’re trying to get me behind a desk but I’m like ADHD, can’t sit still! I finish work at about 3pm, then either spend time with the kids or go and ride at John Slade’s track, which is close.If it wasn’t for ‘big’ John [father of ‘little’ John Slade, who went unbeaten in the AX65 class last year], then I wouldn’t be able to ride anywhere near as much, so I’m very thankful to them.”

“After about a couple of hours riding it’s back home, dinner with the kids, and I’m usually in bed by half nine, then do it all over again, repeat, repeat, repeat!If I’m racing or testing, I usually then travel to the race or to go testing in Spain on Thursday, get an early flight, go straight to the track and ride in the afternoon, work with the team until flying home on Sunday, making sure I don’t use up so much ‘holiday’ time!I get on really well with Sebastien Tortelli, he’s great to have in your corner, he respects how much effort I put in with both work and family as well as racing.It showed in my results, and it’s only getting better and better. Me winning the Championship last year was massive for them, putting in so much effort, obviously, and they’re like another little family for me now.”

The formula certainly worked, as the electric Stark Varg machine matched perfectly with the smooth throttle skills of the experienced Motocrosser – “There’s no clutch, which some riders would struggle with, but I barely use the clutch anyway so it’s no issue for me.” Many riders use the clutch to bring the power in quicker or even soften it off – watch those left hands work through the corners!

Jack had bought himself a limited edition (“it was number 155, my race number!”) Titanium Grade 23 “Trailsaver” axe – part of Stark’s accessory range and a seriously impressive bit of kit worth over £200 – but on winning the title, Stark founder Anton Vass presented the new Champion with a one-of-a-kind golden axe to mark his achievement! Jack adds, “It’s really sharp, it’ll chop a piece of wood straight in half!I joked about maybe keeping my title-winning bike, and when they delivered my new practice bike, they wheeled out my old one as well, engraved with AX Champion 2024 in the headstock, and it’s hanging on the wall next to my two axes, and the ACU British Champion gold plate.Stark went to so much effort, as they do with everything.”

Jack will run with the number one plate that he worked so hard for, and is also intent on keeping it.“I had a little bit of luck last year, but also had the right team behind me. I was on the podium at nearly every round, and that’s what you need to do.I had very little time on the bike, then won first time out on it, which was a bike straight from the crate! They’re testing so much as well, and this year I will do a few warm-up races beforehand, so that all helps a lot.”

There are many contenders chasing after that big #1 plate, but for sure the defending Champ will not be handing it over without a fight!

Jeff Perrett story Arenacross image