Frantic end to season

The first rendezvous is on the M25 at 3.30am with James Dabill, his minder, Chris Kilhams and Brad Bullock, who is coming down to be on minding duties for me this weekend. 

 

In my last column I finished with a couple of events I had coming up such as the Berks Super Trial. 

 

This was a great event as always and we were very lucky with the weather – a mixture of sun and cloud throughout the day, the rain holding off until we were on the way home. 

 

It was interesting going back to the rules we rode with last year as stop was allowed with 90 seconds per section. 

 

It was tricky to start off remembering how to ride this way as this year most of us have practised no stop for the world championship. 

 

I was happy with my riding. I started off well and that continued all through qualifying with only a few mistakes. 

 

This meant I qualified third behind James Dabill and Michael Brown.

 

I found it good going back to this trial a year later and finding steps and jumps and parts that I didn't get near in the previous year and then cleaned this year. 

 

Then in the final again, I started off very well, having the only clean on section one, but then didn't quite get up the final step in section two, which unfortunately was one of the mistakes that cost me third overall. 

 

This was the only stop allowed in the British Championship round this year, meaning that I finished fourth in the championship. 

 

There is a lot to recommend short circuit, extreme section events, the crowd was loud and enthusiastic, giving a superb atmosphere. 

 

The week after it was time for Dougie Lampkin's Trials school located above Silsden at Addingham Moorside.

 

At the school it was great teaching the riders. 

 

It was good to see them improve and become more confident on the big rocky hillside throughout the day after advice from Dougie Lampkin, James Dabill, Martin Lampkin and myself. 

 

I also managed to get a good couple of days training in before the trials school and afterwards I drove home and spent a few 

days  with my family, trying to recharge the batteries for the final sprint for the end of the season.

 

I was very pleased to find out that this year I am a member of the Trial Des Nations team which is taking place in a few weeks time down in France. 

 

So now preparations are in full swing for the last world rounds in France followed by the Trial Des Nations the week after, again in France.

 

The week after is the final British round in the Lakes where I am hoping to improve my form in this championship and finish the series well. 

 

Then the week after is the Red Bull Manchester city centre trial which is likely to be a massive success like last year's event.