Bigger and better
By TMX Archives on 12th Mar 08
AFTER last year's somewhat abbreviated British Sidecar-cross Championship the 2008 version, which starts next Monday, March 24, at Frome will be bigger and better than ever before, writes Chris Helm. With eight rounds, each comprising three races, there will be potentially more action than there has ever been in the history of the series.
The new look championship is being sponsored by Ian Durston Plant Services and has already achieved the maximum of 30 registered riders and in addition more than the allowed number of four wild cards' have expressed an interest in riding.
For the first time in six-years there will be nobody riding with the number one plate on their machine as 2007 champions, John and Mark Watson, will not be competing in the sidecar class this year and are currently riding quads.
Making a welcome return are Stuart Brown and Luke Peters who missed most of last season as a team when Stuart pulled-out due to continuing problems with a damaged scaphoid. This was operated on again last year and although it is not quite as good as new, it is nearly there. He commented recently that the pain he suffered last year is virtually gone and he only suffers a slight ache in the damaged wrist after a lengthy practice session.
After last year's problems with Zabel engines, Stuart has decided to change to Husaberg four-stroke power for this season and after many weeks of testing the team are now fairly confident that major teething problems have been sorted and they are looking forward to the season where Stuart is aiming for his sixth title and Luke his fourth.
Hoping to give them a good run for their money will be Scott Wilkinson and Gary Burt. Scott has been riding better than ever over the last couple of years and is hoping to go one better than the second place he has held for the past two seasons.
Gary, who missed a number of meetings towards the end of last year through injury, has undergone intensive treatment over the winter and is ready to jump on the platform again for one last time. Gary has said for the last couple of years that he will retire, but he seems to forget during the winter months and comes back for more. In fact he first announced his retirement in June 1993 when he was only a young 32-year-old!
The leading four-stroke runners last year, Andy Eastman and Steve Kirwin, will also be looking to improve on last years third place. They certainly improved during the second half of 2007 scoring points in both the GPs they rode and climbing onto the rostrum at the final round of the British championship. Their enthusiasm and dedication should mean they will be right up there at the end of the year.
The leading crew amongst the wild cards' is John Lyne and Pete Girling who will be contesting the French championship where they finished runners-up in 2007 as well as most rounds of the British. Because they will now lose a potential 75 points for every round of the British series missed they will be hard pushed to improve on last years fourth place finish but one thing is certain, it will not be through of lack of effort.
Other crews to look out for are Paul Pelling, now passengered by Tim Breacher, Andy Breacher and Adam Hillyard and the Millard brothers, Dan and Joe, on their Husaberg WSP.
With full grids promised at all rounds and the new format of three slightly shorter races of 20 minutes plus two-laps, it should be worth the wait when the championship starts at Asham Woods, Frome, on Easter Monday.