Sheppard keeps the flock at bay
By TMX Archives on 19th Mar 08
OVER 70 competitors took part in the third round of the ACU Youth A and B class British Trials Championship held at Wolversleigh Farm, Sidbury, in East Devon, hosted by the Otter Vale Motorcycle Club.Competitors tackled 13 sections three times with A class riders starting at section one, following the deep gully to the east of the farm, and the Youth B class at section six at the west of the farm in the wooded banked and loose gully sections.
In the A class chase for the championship, Ben Morphett, Jack Sheppard, Jonathan Richardson and Jonny Walker were all out to better their championship positions. Walker took the lead on the first lap with a score of seven, then Morphett 12, Sheppard 13 and Richardson 14. However this lap proved to be his
best, and he doubled his lap score on lap two with a score of 14.
As the going under foot became more slippery, Richardson had a far better second lap of eight, cleaning the steep section 12 with ease. Morphett had his feet down in this hazard as the loose cambered exit caught him out, although he put in a respectable lap of 10. Sheppard's lap of nine meant Walker led going into the last lap with 21 with the rest all on 22.
So with all to play for on the last lap and conditions still extremely wet and slippery, Sheppard put in an outstanding lap of just three marks to give him the class win on 25. Walker and Morphett both lost 12 on this last lap, Walker taking second being one mark ahead going into the last lap, leaving Richardson to take fourth place.
The B class battle was between Richard Sadler, Chris Short and local rider Keelan Hancock. The B class started at section six, up the rooted gully. Sadler, keen to keep his championship on course, started off well cleaning his first half lap. Hancock just dropped one, but Short gave himself some work to do by dropping five marks on his opening half lap.
It was then Sadler's turn to have a few problems and on his first full lap he dropped 12 compared to Short's seven and Hancock's five, giving the local lad the class lead at the halfway stage.
But as with Sadler and Short, it was unfortunately Hancock's turn to have a few problems and he added eight to his second full lap. With just half a lap left Sadler was on 11, Short 15 and Hancock 14, and although Short remained clean on this last half lap, Sadler just dabbed once to give him the Youth B class win on 12, Short 15 and Hancock added three more for a final score of 17 and third place.
BRITISH YOUTH A&B TRIALS CHAMPS
Rd 3 Wolversleigh Farm, Sidbury, Sidmouth, Devon (Otter Vale MCC)
YOUTH A: Jack Sheppard (Beta-UK) 25 marks lost, Jonny Walker (MRS Sherco) 33, Ben Morphett (JST Gas Gas) 34, Jonathan Richardson (MRS Sherco) 35, Jack Thompson (MRS Sherco) 40, Ricky Wiggins (RCM Gas Gas) 51, Josh Brain (Azzy Paints Sherco) 56, Jack Spencer (Beta) 67, Andy Chilton (FeetUp Sherco) 68, Josh Maude (MRS Sherco) 80, Ben Millichap (Beta) 81, Josh Sprintall (Beta-UK) 82, OJ Sharp (B&B Gas Gas) 101, Jake Young (OAS Beta) 111, William Reynolds (Gas Gas) 112.
SERIES STANDINGS after 3 (of 8) rounds: 1 Sheppard 53 points, 2 Morphett 49, 3 Walker 47, 4 Richardson 44, 5 Spencer 29, 6 Wiggins 29, 7 Chilton 27, 8 Maude 21, 9 Brain 21, 10 Thompson 19,...
YOUTH B: Richard Sadler (MRS Sherco) 12 marks lost, Chris Short (Stevens Gas Gas) 16, Keelan Hancock (Gas Gas) 17, Jack Howell (Beta-UK) 27 (27x0), Chris Stay (JST Gas Gas) 27 (24x0), Jake Evans-Luter (Beta-UK) 28, Luke Walker (MRS Sherco) 35, George Gosden (JST Gas Gas) 36, Alistair Bedford (JC Beta) 43, Joel Edwards (AB Gas Gas) 45, Jack Welch (Sherco) 47, Jordy Hayes (Beta-UK) 51 (19x0), Tom Dexter (B&B Sherco) 51 (18x0), Rob Waite (MRS Sherco) 57, Jack Stones (JST Gas Gas) 65.
SERIES STANDINGS after 3 (of 8) rounds: 1 Sadler 60 points, 2 Howell 45, 3 Hancock 41, 4 Short 39, 5 Evans-Luter 37, 6 Bedford 27, 7 Walker 26, 8 Welch 22, 9 Gosden 22, 10 Stay 21,...
NEXT ROUND: May 4 Bracken Rocks, nr Matlock (East Midland RA).
For full pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, March 21, 2008