Sam's the Man for Luscombe
By TMX Archives on 12th Feb 09
THE Isle of Man plays host to the opening rounds of the British Sidecar and Youth A and B Trials Championships in back-to-back events this weekend.The Andy Smith Trophy Trial has become a regular early feature of the British Sidecar Championship in recent years, but this is the first time the island has hosted a round of the youth series since Dan Clark and Harry Lampkin fought it out on Manx soil in 1992. The big news regarding Saturday's three-wheel event is the return of 13-times British champion, Robin Luscombe, who will be partnered by his 18-year-old son, Sam, for the first time at any level.
Boss of the Colin Appleyard Group's car division, Cullingworth star, Robin returns to competition for the first time since the 2008 Inter Centre Team Trial seven months ago, having announced his retirement shortly afterwards.
The most successful driver in the history of sidecar trials, Luscombe is not firmly committing himself to the full nine rounds of the series, but is determined to have a good time.
We will see what Saturday has in store at the Peveril MCC's opening sidecar championship round. Sam and I may fall out in the first section. He has his opinions and I have mine!
Sam is due to go to Loughborough University this year so the immediate plans centre around the Isle of Man and maybe the Colin Dommett Trial on March 1 at Redruth.
The plan is to ride and enjoy the event, and the company,'' explained Luscy', who will be astride the same 300cc Appleyard Montesa he campaigned in the early part of last
season when his teenage son partnered Harrogate builder Kevin Morley to second place in the Clubman class in the national series.
Nine crews have entered the main Championship class for the opener, with three in the Intermediate class and a further 18 in the Clubman category, making a healthy 30 pairs in total.
The reigning champions Jon Tuck and Matt Sparkes look odds-on favourites to win the Isle of Man round for a second year in succession, while the Luscombe duo will have more than a fight on their hands for second place, having to deal with the local contingent led by former Isle of Man Centre champions Gary Flowers and Antony Smith, the father and son pairing of Adrian and Aaron Smith, and solo ace Juan Knight in his annual three-wheel outing with Chris Molyneux. Lee Granby and Jamie Howe will also be thereabouts.
In the Intermediate class, last year's winners Mark Bimson and Julie Owen will take some stopping, while fellow locals Craig Baxter and Manx champion passenger, Jane Birchall, could well make it a near carbon copy of the 2008 winners if they pull it off in the Clubman category Baxter having won last year with James Caine in the chair.
The Twin-shock support class running at the head of the field should see a good scrap between the local trio of Stephen Collins, Neil Christian and Nigel Crellin. Some 35 riders have entered the Expert class with a further seven contesting Clubmen.
The 18.4-mile route is again centred on the organising club's Knock Froy HQ, with groups of sections at Ballingan, Ellerslie Glen, Kings Forest, Cooilingel, Bernie's Glen, Cooil Slieu, Cronk Breck, Cornelly Mines, Ballachrink and Knock Froy all in or close to the island's central valley.
Sunday's Franklins Trophy Youth Trial has attracted 26 Youth B contenders and 13 in Youth A in an event organised by the Isle of Man Youth Trials Club and based solely at the South Barrule Slate Quarry, two
miles above the former mining
village of Foxdale.
With 2008 Youth A champion, Ben Morphett, setting his stall out for pastures new, the focus of attention will be on East Anglian Jack Sheppard on a Beta, last year's Youth B champion, Richard Sadler, from Richmond on a Sherco and impressive 16-year-old Joanne Coles of Derbyshire on a Gas Gas. Coles finished a superb third in the 2008 British Women's Trials Championship. Josh Brain should be the pick of the locals.
The likely pacesetters in Youth B Class should be Beta-mounted Jack Howell from North Yorkshire, the Isle of Wight duo of Chris Stay and George Gosden (both on Gas Gas) and Sherco-mounted Luke Walker.
Also making his Youth B debut will be the 2008 Youth C champ, Iwan Roberts, while former Isle of Man resident, Lee Sealey, will be hoping to make it a happy return to his old stomping ground.
Both classes will ride three laps of eight-sections, starting in one minute intervals from 10am, with a five-hour maximum time limit.