Wilson clinches 2026 Arenacross Championship
The 2026 Arenacross Tour, presented by Dirt Store, came to its conclusion tonight at the SSE Arena in Belfast, and the megastar that is Dean Wilson continued to win in the most exciting way, fighting through the pack, and ultimately still not quite dealing well with those pesky head-to-Head races. There were great performances wherever you looked at the final night of Arenacross 2026! Words: Arenacross
With Martin Barr already sidelined from a crash on Friday, the last remaining home Pro rider, James Mackrel, hurt himself in morning Practice and couldn’t ride for Substance JPR KTM – “I’m gutted as I was feeling really good!”. Marty was able to get back trackside to support his son in the E-Mini class, and the multitude of home riders in the support classes kept the crowd behind them!
Phoenix Tools Fantic rider John Adamson was the revelation of the Hot Laps session, holding on for a season-best fourth, only beaten by AJP Racing’s Adam Chatfield, J3M Shocktech Racing star Matt Bayliss sending it into second, then of course Wilson putting the #1 Armor Vision Powered by St Blazey Honda into pole position.
The opening Pro Main Event saw Matt Bayliss hit the front immediately, followed by the Stark Future machine of Jack Brunell. Adamson was again sharp off the gate in third, while his fellow Scot Wilson was languished in ninth out of turn one, but not for long. He fought his way brilliantly to fourth by the end of the first full lap, as Dylan Woodcock put the Dirt Store Triumph into third.
Wilson would snap past Woodcock at half distance to take second as Brunell dropped to fourth behind the top two in the series, then they both set after Bayliss! Finally they both got him, Dylan nearly squeezing past the Honda too, on lap nine of the twelve. It finished Wilson, Woodcock, and Bayliss, as Brunell could do no better than fourth, with Chatfield fifth.
That man Adamson again claimed the early lead in the second Pro Main Event, but Wilson and Woodcock were right with him and instantly past to take up the top two positions. Sadly Brunell, outside the top five off the start, got a rhythm section badly wrong and fell awkwardly in the mid-pack. In a difficult spot for help, the red flag came out to stop the race. Undiagnosed at the time of writing, Jack went to hospital conscious and aware. We wish him all the best.
On the restart, Wilson took command instantly and was never troubled. Matt Bayliss and Chatfield disputed second, with the 2013 Champion taking the spot halfway through the shortened race. Bayliss was just nabbed by Woodcock for third in the closing laps, before his teammate Eddie Wade also got past on the final circulation. Deano’s clear win sealed the Championship for the second year in succession, clearly a worthy Champion.
In the Head-to-Heads, Wilson dispatched new Pro-Am Champ Louis Brookes but fell victim to a move from Chatfield to again miss the H2H final. Chatfield was met in the final by Wade and Matt Bayliss, and Wade just had that extra aggression to bring it home.
With third in the Championship on the line, Bayliss was fired up and led early in race three. Wade was on a high, however, and fired into the lead on lap four, before Wilson inevitably blitzed them both in the whoops, patiently picking his moment. Wade was able to just keep Wilson in sight, and that second place was enough to make it a Dirt Store Triumph 2-3 on the podium, and scoop the Team Championship award in the process. Woodcock took that third place to seal second in the series, and Matt Bayliss took fourth to take that third position in the series!
As always, the Pro Championship provided plenty of drama, action, and surprises. Your worthy Champion though, for the second year in a row, is Deano Wilson!
Pro Overall
Dean Wilson 75 Points
Dylan Woodcock 62 Points
Eddie Wade 56 Points
Pro Championship
Dean Wilson 228 Points
Dylan Woodcock 182 Points
Matt Bayliss 158 Points
Image: Arenacross
