Browny points!
By John Dickinson on 21st Oct 11
MICHAEL Brown added the prestigious Lakes Two Day National Trial to his portfolio of 2011 successes last weekend. The Gas Gas pilot sat a single mark behind Shercos Jonathan Richardson after Saturdays 40 sections.
Then, in a thrilling second day, by the punchcard change on Sunday the battling duo were dead level on 11 marks apiece.But in the afternoon run Michael dropped just three marks to Jonathan's seven and victory was his by the comfortable margin of six marks.
In the Clubman class Scorpa rider Mick Boam led Ossa's John Cowley by four marks on Saturday evening – eight to 12 – and consolidated that lead on Sunday to repeat last year's class victory, taking the win by eight marks from Midland Vet Cowley, who just held-off last year's runner-up – local Northern centre rider Rob Shuttleworth – by a single mark.
The Lakes, based once again in the Cumbrian market town of Broughton in Furness, was staged over a superb weekend, weather-wise with a distinctly warm and sunny day on Saturday.
And while there was heavy overnight rain and Sunday dawned very damp and misty, the day came out fine except for a single threatening shower at mid-day, so there were no complaints on that score.
The marking-out teams had their work cut out more than ever this year as, due to illegal riding in the sensitive National Parks area, a large chunk of previously used off-road going was denied to the club and some nifty route marking was required to link the various groups.
The starting number was a mighty 181, with 19 retirements over the weekend which saw 40 sections tackled each day, with 14 groups on Saturday and 15 on Sunday.
Phil Hodgson was the first rider away at 9am prompt and with two riders departing every minute, the whole entry was on the road heading for the first three sections at Coal Gate by 10.30am.
The seven morning groups of sections were all in the Woodland area and for the aces in the National class proved to be relatively low-scoring. By the lunchtime fuel halt and punch card change, which was en route to the Duddon Valley for the second half of the day, no fewer than three riders were still clean – eventual winner Brown, Sherco rider Ben Morphett (all the way from Herne Bay on the south coast) and local ace Darren Brice from Seascale on his Sherco.
A total of 14 riders were still in single figures, with Richardson and Ross Danby on just one and Dronfield's Chris Pearson on two.
In a deliberate ploy by the club, the afternoon's 20 sections were stiffened-up considerably and only five contenders
managed single figure cards.
Jonathan Richardson was on the charge and his four marks trumped Browny's six, with Pearson and Dan Thorpe carding eight apiece and Morphett nine.
In contrast Bricey plummeted from clean in the morning to finish on 25.
The top three overall were Richardson 5, Brown 6 and Morphett 9, but there was plenty of opportunity on Sunday for others to make a move.
In the Clubman class Mick Boam left-off exactly where he finished in last year's Lakes – at the front – carding just a single mark in the morning.
John Cowley was right on the case with just two marks lost on the Ossa with Gavin Black and Bristolian vet Scotty Cameron on four apiece and former local lad, now Manx-based, Nigel Sharp on five along with Preston all-rounder Kieran Hankin.
Just like in the National class the section severity was upped in the afternoon when only two riders posted single figure scores – Boam and Shuttleworth – but the chasing pack was still fairly well packed behind them.
After overnight rain, Sunday's sections promised to be pretty slippery and so it turned out. Riders started in reverse order and the field headed up the Duddon Valley, where the second section at Newfield, twisting its way up the steep rocky gully, promised to be one to sort out the winners.
As it happened it wasn't crucial, but did produce some excellent riding.
Richardson showed no nerves and went early on the National route and his single dab ride was excellent.
There was only one clean recorded though and that went to Chris Pearson with an excellent effort. Brown parted with just a dab so not much damage done.
By the lunch halt it was Richardson six, Brown five and the leading duo were all-square on total marks with eleven.
The afternoon's 20 subs would sort out the victor.
It was the familiar final day's route from Souterstead's Wood near Torver working back down the valley to finish in the mud and rocks amongst the trees at Baskell Wood, Rosthwaite and Whetstone Croft.
Dan Thorpe had an eventful ride through the opener in Rosthwaite.
Firstly, he had to take evasive action to avoid a little lad as he lined-up a vertical double-step ascent.
Then he tippled down the banking at the top – and almost took the poor lad out again as he had run for cover.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE T+MX OCTOBER 21
NATIONAL Lakes Two-Day Trial
Broughton-in-Furness (Lakes MTA)
NATIONAL ROUTE: Michael Brown (Gas Gas) 6 + 8 = 14 marks lost, Jonathan Richardson (Sherco) 5 + 13 = 18, Ross Danby (Gas Gas) 15 + 11 = 26, Ben Morphett (Sherco) 9 + 18 = 27, Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) 13 + 17 = 30, Chris Pearson (Sherco) 12 + 19 = 31, Richard Sadler (Sherco) 22 + 11 = 33, Sam Haslam (Gas Gas) 18 + 15 = 33, Ian Austermuhle (Beta) 26 + 11 = 37, Darren Brice (Scorpa) 25 + 17 = 42, James Fry (Sherco) 20 + 23 = 43, George Morton (Beta) 28 + 32 = 60, Ben Wibberley (Gas Gas) 31 + 35 = 66, Richard Ellwood (Gas Gas) 39 + 28 = 67, James Graham (Gas Gas) 35 + 49 = 84, Ross Crosby (Montesa) 43 + 43 = 86, William Reynolds (Beta) 61 + 28 = 89, James Carr (Ossa) 35 + 55 = 90, Stephen Dixon (Scorpa) 52 + 38 = 90, William Brockbank (Sherco) 58 + 38 = 96.
CLUBMAN ROUTE: Mick Boam (Scorpa) 8 + 17 = 25, John Cowley (Ossa) 12 + 21 = 33, Robert Shuttleworth (Beta) 18 + 16 = 34, Roger Williams (Beta) 24 + 16 = 40, Gavin Black (Beta) 20 + 25 = 45, Scott Cameron (Sherco) 20 + 26 = 46, Andrew Tales (Beta) 22 + 24 = 46, Nigel Sharp (Gas Gas) 20 + 27 = 47, James Walker (Sherco) 25 + 23 = 48, Kiaran Hankin (Sherco) 15 + 35 = 50, Guy Chandler (Beta) 23 + 27 = 50, Katy Sunter (Gas Gas) 26 + 24 = 50, Stuart Blythe (Beta) 24 + 27 = 51, Michael James (Beta) 26 + 27 = 53, Andrew Anderson (Ossa) 21 + 34 = 55, Stuart Gaskell (???) 29 + 27 = 56, Andrew Wilkinson (Ossa) 26 + 31 = 57, Jonny White (Gas Gas) 20 + 47 = 67, Neil Sharp (Gas Gas) 37 + 31 = 68, John Gornall (Gas Gas) 35 + 35 = 70, Paul Dennis (Gas Gas) 31 + 42 = 73, Guy Kenyon-Ball (Beta) 52 + 25 = 77, Paul Jepson (Beta) 35 + 47 = 82, Owen Gilchrist (???) 39 + 44 = 83, Phil Scott (Montesa) 45 + 47 = 92.
AIR-COOLED CLASS: Mark Batty (Suzuki 61 + 41 = 102, Chris Myers (Yamaha) 53 + 69 = 122, Mark Barrow (Yamaha) 68 + 58 = 126.
