Bernard makes his mark
By TMX Archives on 23rd Nov 06
WHAT a difference a week makes! The previous weekend Neil Gaunt finished in a comparatively lowly eighth place at the Classic Expert trial in Mid Wales, losing 22 marks in the process.
Last weekend, at the excellent Downland Trophy trial on the borders of Berkshire/ Oxfordshire, he didn't put a foot wrong all day and finished with the only clean sheet from an entry of 80 Solos and nine Sidecars. And on a big Four-stroke too, a proper British bike.
This trial however, the traditional final round in the Sammy Miller British Bike trials championship and based as always at West Hagbourne, in the shadow of Didcot Power Station, is laid out over 35 sections and a 20 mile lap of the local downs – very different to the rocks and streams of Mid-Wales. When the sections were plotted it was wet, but on the day the chalk had dried and grip was generally easy to find. Nevertheless, with some clever tweaking here and there, the enterprising North Berks club produced a keen contest.
After the opening Nappers Lane group in a stream and cress beds, the entry made their way to six, man-made sections at Seymours Arena. A big gallery watching and some tricky rocky gullies and banks to negotiate. No problems for the majority, unless you encountered a ‘technical' problem or got it all wrong on the final hazard here.
DOWNLAND TROPHY TRIAL
Tele-Rigid: Bernard Rodemark (290 BSA ) 2 marks lost, Mike Barton (500 AJS) 3 (most cleans), Graham Howes (390 BSA) 3, Nigel Townsend (350 AJS) 3, Ian Watkins (250 AJS) 3.
Pre-Unit Springer: Neil Gaunt (500 Ariel) clean (Best Performance), Graham Barton (500 Ariel) 23, Colin Hedges (350 Matchless) 44.
Two-stroke: Julian Wigg (250 DOT) 3, Martyn Stanistreet (197 James) 6, Mike Smith (250 Greeves) 9, Peter Salt (250 Francis Barnett) 11.
Unit: Darren Snell (350 BSA) 2, Peter Gaunt (250 Royal Enfield) 7, Keith Gardner (250 Triumph) 17.
Pre-Unit Sidecar: Dave and Steve Burdge (500 Ariel) 11, John and Paul Young (500 Ariel) 12, Peter Pesterfield/Keith Laker (500 AJS) 22.
Unit Sidecar: Ali Haigh/Barry Pocock (441 BSA) 7, Ian Hannam/Debbie Smith (441 BSA) 12, Ady Matthews/Debbie Mirrelo (500 Triumph) 21.
British Specials & Twin-shock: Nick Draper (200 Cotswold Majesty) 1, Kirby Bennett (250 Honda) 2, Anthony Rew (340 Bultaco) 5.
Trail Bike (Hard): Keith Wells (185 Honda) 24, Mike Husband (272 Pampera) 25, Ian Thompson (Suzuki) 31.
Trail Bike (Easy): P Cowley (200 Honda) 1, Scott Faulkner (250 Honda) 8, Richard Gill (200 Beta) 8, Graham Harrison (250 Gas Gas) 8, John Townsend (250 BSA) 8, Roy Trump (175 Whitehawk) 8, Simon Wynne (200 Beta) 8.
For full report, results and pictures see T+MX News, Friday, November 24, 2006.