Down in the ‘woods!
By TMX Archives on 8th Mar 11
Preview: Round 1 of the 2011 ACU Events British Trials Championships
THE eight round 2011 ACU Events British Solo Trials Championship kicks-off this weekend with a brand-new event, the TRC Westwood trial, which will take place on Sunday over a closed course near Barnsley, Yorks. Practise will take place between 3 - 5pm on Saturday and then the trial will start at 10am Sunday.
Reigning British champ James Dabill won every single round of the 2010 series and never really looked like being headed. So what has changed to make things any different in 2011? Well, the leading three riders have all changed machines over the winter, Dabill has gone from Gas Gas to Beta , Michael Brown has moved from Sherco to Gas Gas and Alexz Wigg transfers from Beta to take Browny's berth at Sherco.
Both Brown and Wigg retain their same minders in Shaughan Galway and Harold Crawford and Jack Lee's place with James has been taken by Ben Hemingway. Ben is a vastly experienced rider and having ridden Betas for many years should be perfect for the job.
Both of these riders are desperate to beat James with Michael having finished British number two more times than he cares to remember. Alexz has won Championship rounds previously but he is aware that he needs to find a higher level of consistency early on and he has been in Spain recently getting in some winter training.
The spectre of Dougie Lampkin, who made a surprise winter move to Gas Gas looms large and the 12 times World Champion has entered the series and one thing we know about Doug is he certainly has the ability and determination to win events.
Who else can get up there with them? Last season, Midlander Ross Danby had a superb year winning many National trials and in the BTC he came home fourth just ahead of Sam Haslam. Both are superb young riders and could well get podium placings. Sam was unlucky to sustain a hand injury at Kent's final round last year so he was unable to push Ross for the #4 plate.
Another man to look out for is 20 year old Jack Challoner the Top Trial Team Beta rider who spent much of 2010 riding in the Italian Championships. He also won the World Junior Championship last season so he is a rider who can handle pressure. There is less of a clash of dates with Italian rounds this year so if Jack rides look out!
2010 Expert A Champion Gary Macdonald has signed up once again but we can expect a serious challenge to come from the up and coming teenager Jack Sheppard. Ian Austermuhle is also listed but he only competed in selected rounds in 2010 as did Joe Baker but one thing is for sure if either of them ride then look out for them at the sharp end of proceedings. Last year Jack Spencer had some excellent results as did Andy Chilton so both will be looking for similar performances this time around.
Experts B has been a huge success since its introduction with Cumbrian Darren Brice the current Scorpa-mounted Champion. Although Brice was a runaway victor in 2010, Guy Kendrew looked ominously good all through the series and now Ossa mounted he finished well up in the Wallace Cup two weeks ago. With John Crinson, Richard Timperley, Dan Farrer , Buster Regan and many others for company this should once again be a fascinating year in the most popular class.
Graham Jarvis and his hard working Dirtbike-action section building crew spent last weekend finishing off the sections and the scene is set for a fantastic start to the series. Renault trucks have supplied an articulated hospitality unit which is normally seen at formula 1 event and will form the start platform.
The compact venue is spectator friendly with all the sections only a short distance from the start. Practice starts on Saturday at 3pm with the trial commencing at 10am Sunday. The venue will be marked from junction 36 M1 and from the roundabout were the A61 and A616 meet. Entry is just £5 per person with under 14s free.
New season, new event, new venue - new winner? Find out in T+MX next week!