Trials Torque: Scott bits
By Team TMX on 21st Oct 15
THE 2015 Scott Trial was another major epic courtesy of the Richmond Motor Club with almost 200 competitors taking on the time and observation classic on the Yorkshire moors, centred on the town of Reeth.
The trial was followed by several thousand eager spectators in – and on – hundreds of vehicles.
It's a credit to the club that given the sheer volume of traffic concentrated on such a relatively compact area, on rural single track roads, traffic problems were kept to a minimum.
Huge designated car parks went a long way to keeping the traffic flowing.
As ever, once the trial got under way at 9am it was flat out all the way whether you were riding or trying to keep up with the leaders.
As time flies when you're enjoying yourself it seemed like no time at all when we were back in the start field to witness the culmination of a superb day's sport.
As ever there were twists and turns in the way the day unfolded. Johnny Rich, John Sunter and Billy Bolt all went out to set Standard Time and hardly surprisingly suffered their share of crashes and/ or mechanical mayhem.
Billy, after a typical harem scarem ride eventually blew his motor when almost home, Sunt suffered punctures at virtually the same spot and Richo got away with it all to escape and set Standard Time!
Maximum respect to eventual winner Ian Austermuhle, a rider who has paid his trials dues and then some, and I know that there isn't a single person in the sport that isn't pleased Austy has finally landed a trials Major.
Good also to see Alexz Wigg genuinely enjoy a successful Scott, while pal Sam Haslam was also on the pace all day.
Ross Danby was as consistent as ever at the sharp end of things while Richard Sadler pipped his week-on-week rivals Guy Kendrew and James Stones and no doubt treated them to a half at the presentation!
Hats off again to the girls, Emma, so close to a Silver Spoon, the awesome Chloe and of course Katy, now a serial Scott finisher who has her sights set on 15 finishes!
Congratulations to all finishers, especially the first-timers and commiserations to those who battled round to reach the finish, only to be eliminated on time.
