Get ready for a Manx tale
By John Dickinson on 26th Aug 11
The 2011 Manx National Two Day Trial gets under way at 8am this Saturday from the legendary TT Grandstand in Douglas, capital of the Isle of Man. A core part of the Manx Grand Prix road race festival, the trial will provide the thousands of spectators on the Island with a great weekend of off-road competition featuring both solo and sidecar classes who in turn will enjoy a superb trial over a unique variety of terrain in such a compact island.
On Saturday morning the solos will set out on a 37 mile tour of the southern half of the Island, featuring 44 sections, which will be followed on Sunday by a 41 mile tour to the north featuring a further 41 sections.
Leading riders in the National Solo class will include Dan Thorpe (JST Gas Gas), a true National trial legend after achieving the unique feat of recording 100 National trial wins. Dan has previously won the Manx and is probably the man to beat this weekend. Keeping the pressure on him will be a list of talented riders including Miles Jones (300 Beta), Joel Sadler (300 Acklams PJ1 Beta) and Nathan Wrigglesworth (290 Beta) in addition to the strong local challenge featuring Barry Kinley (280 Knight Gas Gas), Nigel Crellin (300 Knight Gas Gas) and Josh Brain (300 Azzy Paints Gas Gas).
The solo Clubman class is the usual lottery with any number of riders able to challenge for the Premier. Darren Wasley will probably start as favourite after registering victory in '08 and '09, but it should be a very close contest.
The Sidecar class will start out as a battle between the two Robins, Morewood and Luscombe. Having been victorious a total of 22 times between them over the years at the Manx they bring so much experience that it would take something special to beat them.
However that 'something special' might just be all rounder Juan Knight and passenger Chris Molyneux, who won the first round of the British Championship this year, also held in the Isle of Man. Other crews to keep any eye on will be Rupert/ Chris Kimber, Lee Granby/ Amelia Haigh, Adrian/ Aaron Smith and Gary Flowers/ Antony Smith.
A mammoth Sidecar route containing 99 sections over the two days should provide a real test for the crews, in what many consider to be the best event of the year.
Manx Independent Carriers, AD Hewett Dental Practice and Road and Track Motorcycles, provide welcome sponsorship of the coveted replica Sword of State presented to the winning solo, sidecar driver and passenger.
Riders and observers signing-on will take place on Friday, August 26, at the Villa Marina, located centrally on Douglas Promenade. The trial itself commences from 8am on each day from the TT Grandstand and the weekend is completed by the eagerly awaited Presentation of awards on Sunday evening at the Villa Marina, with doors opening from 8.30pm.
The Manx Two-Day Trial was first run in 1955 as a National level, two day event that annually draws 330 individual competitors taking part across both solo and sidecar classes. As ever, next week's TMX will include a full report with pictures from this superb trial.
