British Trials Champs Preview
By TMX Archives on 16th Apr 09
THE third round of the ACU Events Ltd-sponsored British Trials Championships is coming up this weekend and reconvenes at the Neath MC's, St David's Trial, writes COLIN BULLOCK.
Practise sessions are scheduled for Saturday, April 18, between 3pm and 5pm with the course featuring two laps of 15-section.
The venue is Llety Rafel Farm which has been used for a number of years and will be signposted off the A465 at Aberdulais (Postcode SA10 8HR – for SatNav users).
The land features a variety of sections including the infamous rocky outcrops that run across the top of the ridge and these are invariably spectacular viewing for the assembled sepectators.
The rider line-up has now beeen finalised. All of the top British contenders have recently been away at round one of this season's World Championship in Ireland and all are entered with the exception of Dougie Lampkin. You can expect very keen competition for this Championship event down in South Wales.
What is also certain is that in the main group Gas Gas teamster, James Dabill, will be looking to extend his lead in the series while his friend and rival, Michael Brown, needs to peg back the points deficit quickly.
Alexz Wigg had a great result in Ireland, winning the Junior class and this should be a great confidence booster going into this event.
With Shaun Morris also going great guns at present, it is going to take a big effort from Sam Haslam, Ross Danby and crew to break onto the podium positions.
There are full line ups in the two Expert groups – A and B. In the leading section there as been one win apiece for Beta riders, Sam Connor and Ian Austermuhle, with Gary MacDonald looking very close in Kinlochleven and quite capable of taking a win.
In fact the whole rider line-up looks strong. Predicting the top three would be a risky business especially as Jonathan Richardson is another rider to star at in the World Championship opener – he took the victory in the Youth category in Ireland.
In Group B, which seems to be a huge success in attracting riders, there appears to be no entry from Darren Brice who rode so well in at The MacDonald Trial at Kinlochleven, so Ricky Wiggins and Sam Ludgate may start as favourites but John Crinson is having a steady year, so again its all up for grabs.
The main action gets under way on Sunday morning at 10am...