Ain't no stopping Ben
By TMX Archives on 24th Feb 10
ONCE again North Berks MCC was the host for the opening round of the Novogar Trials Championship, although for 2010 there was a slight difference. Love it or hate it, the no-stopping rule had been re-introduced by the ACU, but how would the riders adapt?
Despite debate at some of the sections between observers and competitors, just about the entire entry coped admirably. Eventual victory went to Beta rider Ben Morphett who produced a stunning performance, losing just a mere three marks.
In taking the Novogar win, Ben also outscored the top Experts Sam Haslam, Sam Connor and Alexz Wigg, who were busy contesting the supporting Experts class.
Taking the no-stop rules into consideration, clerk of the course Stu Robinson had opened the sections up and plotted 38 interesting hazards for the bumper entry of some 130 riders to tackle. Proving that both he and the hard working North Berks MCC had got it right once again. The scores returned suggested that a great day of trials action had been enjoyed by all.
Report and Pictures: Mike Wood
The trial started from the traditional starting point at the Horse and Harrow Pub at West Hagbourne, near Didcot. Novogar Over 40 rider Chris Koch led the entry away to tackle the first group at Napper's Bank which featured three steep climbs up an old railway cutting. From here it was onto Cress Beds before arriving at Stu Robinson's pride and joy, the man-made rockery, Seymours Arena.
On arrival at Seymours, Ben Wibberley, Guy Kendrew, Ricky Wiggins and Phil Disney remained unpenalised whilst John Crinson and Andy Chilton had lost just one mark each with Simon Bird and eventual winner Ben Morphett on two.
Despite losing his two marks in the final section of the opening group at Napper's Bank, Morphett was already beginning to turn the screw in the battle for Novogar honours, and at Seymours he then produced an immaculate performance to remain clean over the rocks and lead the contest.
The final hazard in Seymours proved to be the sting in the tail for a vast majority of the entry, taking five marks off Wibberley, Andy Chilton, Simon Bird, Disney and Rob Warner to name just a few.
After the great entertainment of Seymours, it was onto Lollingdon Hill and a completely different challenge of six sections comprising of adverse banks and tree roots. Once again, Morphett had another faultless ride. So with the event hitting its midway point, Morphett was firmly in control on just two marks lost followed by Wiggins on seven, Chilton on nine, and Wibberley on ten.
Having started with a rather disastrous ten marks lost in the opening group at Napper's Bank, Matthew Jones was quickly adapting to the non-stop system and started storming up the leaderboard.
NOVOGAR TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 1 Wallace Cup Trial (North Berks MCC).
NOVOGAR POINTS SCORERS: Ben Morphett (Beta UK) 3 marks lost, Andy Chilton (MRS Sherco) 9, John Crinson (Beta) 17, Matthew Jones (MRS Sherco) 19 (29x0), Ben Wibberley (JST Gas Gas) 19 (28x0), Ricky Wiggins (Albion Gas Gas) 21, Guy Kendrew (AM Gas Gas) 24 (29x0), Phil Disney (Appleyard Beta) 24 (28x0), Rob Warner (RAW Montesa) 27, Simon Bird (Freestyle Sherco) 28, Joshua Woods (Beta UK) 29, Ben Sprigg (290 Beta) 29, Miles Jones (Montesa) 32, Tom Nicholas (Gas Gas) 33, Dave Clinkard (250 Beta) 34.
SERIES STANDINGS after 1 (of 8) rounds: 1 Ben Morphett 20 points, 2 Chilton 17, 3 Crinson 15, 4 Matthew Jones 13, 5 Wibberley 11, 6 Wiggins 10, 7 Kendrew 9, 8 Disney 8, 9 Warner 7, 10 Bird 6, 11 Woods 5, 12 Sprigg 4, 13 Miles Jones 3, 14 Tom Nicholas 2, 15 Clinkard 1.
NOVOGAR 125cc CLASS: John Battensby (125 Sherco) 71, Terry Craig (125 Gas Gas) 72, Benjamin Heane (125 BVM Beta) 86, Ryan Henderson (125 Gas Gas) 945.
NOVOGAR 125cc SERIES STANDINGS: 1 Battensby 20 points, 2 Craig 17, 3 Heane 15, 4 Henderson 13.
NOVOGAR OVER 40 CLASS: Dave Clinkard (250 Beta) 34, Mick Boam (250 Scorpa) 41, Kevin Morphett (260 Montesa) 43 (22x0), Steve Grindle (RAW Gas Gas) 43 (21x0), Richard Allen (John Lee Gas Gas) 53, Chris Koch (250 Beta) 64, Mike James (John Lee Beta) 65, Sam King (RAW Gas Gas) 69, David Burrows (300 Gas Gas) 78.
NOVOGAR OVER 40 SERIES STANDINGS: 1 Clinkard 20 points, 2 Boam 17, 3 Kevin Morphett 15, 4 Grindle 13, 5 Allen 11, 6 10, 7 Koch 9, 8 James 8, 9 King 7, 10 Burrows 6,...
NEXT ROUND: February 28 Colmore Cup Trial (Stratford on Avon MCC).
NON-CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSES
Expert Class: Sam Haslam (JST Gas Gas) 7 marks lost, Sam Connor (Beta) 8, Alexz Wigg (Beta UK) 11, James Fry (MRS Sherco) 12, Ross Danby (300 JST Gas Gas) 13.
50/50 Route: Kevin Nolan (350 SWM) 18 marks lost, Jason Welland (250 Fantic) 19 (29x0,5x1), Ivan Philipson (Appleyard Beta) 20 (29x0,4x1), Kevin Feeny (Appleyard Beta) 26 (25x0,6x1), Barry Roads (Beta) 27 (25x0,5x1), Philip Wiffen (300 Fantic) 29 (24x0), Scott Faulkner (300 Gas Gas) 29 (23x0), James Connor (Beta) 31, James Welch (270 Beta) 33, Mark Taylor (290 Sherco) 39.
For full report and pictures read T+MX, February 26
Beta-mounted Ben Sprigg earns valuable Novogar Championship points on Sunday.