Sky high champs
By TMX Archives on 4th Oct 07
BRADFORD and DMC have the honour, once again, of staging the final round of the Colin Appleyard ACU 2007 British Trials Championship which will be held at the excellent Skyrakes Farm venue near Skipton, Yorks, on Sunday.
The Championship had built up to the perfectclimax with Gas Gas challenger Shaun Morris having closed down seriesleader and defending champ, Sherco's Graham Jarvis. With just a two-point gap, it was going to be the perfect case of winner take all.Unfortunately, Shaun's workshop accident (reported in T+MX last week)which has left the Lancashire lad with a seriously injured left eye,looks like keeping him out of the event, which is a desperate shame forboth Shaun and for the series.
If Shaun can't make it, then Graham will be crowned champ before the start, as third place man Michael Brown is 23 points behind the seriesleader, 21 behind Morris and 26 ahead of fourth man Alexz Wigg, so thetop three will finish the season in that order.
This actually leaves an intriguing battle betweenGas Gas-mounted pals Alexz and Sam Haslam. With a nine-point advantage,it is going to take a mega ride by Sam and a poor finish for Alexz forthe positions to change but Sam will be up for the challenge.
In the 2007 Expert class, which has been ascompetitive as ever, Scorpa's popular Devon rider Joe Baker holds ahandy 12-point lead over teenager Ross Danby and Joe will really haveto lose the plot to avoid winning the Championship.
Ross has been a revelation though on the 125 Gasser and he certainly will be going for the win on the day.
As ever there will be plenty of opposition fromDan Thorpe, Mika Vesterinen, Chris Pearson, Craig Robinson, JamesLampkin and even Martin Crosswaite will be making a rare outing. DonnaFox has made a late entry and will be waving the flag for the girls.
Following DEFRA guidelines, all vehicles,motorcycles and riding gear must be absolutely clean on arrival and noagricultural vehicles or trailers will be admitted on site.
The official practise lap will take place this Saturday between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.
Sunday's trial will get underway at 10.01. There will be a small charge for vehicle parking and refreshments will be available.
Skyrakes is an excellent venue and the sectionsmake for spectacular spectating! The venue will be flagged off the A59Skipton-Grassington road, one mile from the big roundabout, just pastthe Craven Heifer Hotel.
Championship Standings: 1 Graham Jarvis 125points, 2 Shaun Morris 123, 3 Michael Brown 102, 4 Alexz Wigg 76, 5 SamHaslam 67, 6 Gary Macdonald 62.
Expert Standings: 1 Joe Baker 129, 3 Ross Danby117, 3 Dan Thorpe 102, 4 Mika Vesterinen 82, 5 Chris Pearson 66, 6Craig Robinson 61.
125cc Standings: 1 Ross Danby 140, 2 Andrews 68, 3 Shankie 60, 4 Graham 17.