It's tough at the Alan
By TMX Archives on 12th Jun 09
CUMBERLAND County Motorcycle Club held the 79th Alan Trophy Trial on Sunday, starting in the village of Newbiggin, in Cumbria, and incorporating a round of the ACU Novogar Championship.
A total of 85 riders started the event, of which around 35 opted for the 50/50 route, with two laps of 23 vastly varied sections laid out by Gary Bingley and his gang, all cleverly linked without any roadwork.
Dan Thorpe took the Alan Trophy home with his sixth outright win in the event, but right behind in second place, Chris Pearson grabbed all 20 Novogar points after a day long battle with first lap leader John Crinson.
After an easy opener at the bottom of the Newbiggin stream, section two was a tough ride up the rocky gully before a tight right turn then up a four foot rock step. Early number, local lad Jonny Walker, fived the step before Thorpe, Pearson and Crinson plus the Jones's Matthew and Miles all cleaned.
The hillclimb in Smith's Wood took its usual marks with the loose soil catching most of the entry apart from the top few, as well as James Johnson who was rewarded with a clean for his full-blooded assault.
Upper Newbiggin's single sub had a sting in the tail with a small narrow rock step but with a difficult approach line. While Pearson cast his first three marks here, Crinson and Miles Jones needed single dabs but Thorpe steadied himself before hitting the step perfectly for the only first lap clean. Over 40s contender Mick Boam, had a go at riding it non-stop and it almost paid-off as he needed just the one as he exited the ends cards at great speed.
The top sub at Coombs Gulley must be one of the best natural sections around. It can be cleaned as Jonny Walker proved with a perfect ride on his second lap, but the many steps with numerous twists and turns make for excellent viewing.
Only real problem is that the current marking rules mean that most riders can push and shove their way up for a three but those trying that bit more can be caught out, just ask Dan Thorpe who stalled his Gasser after going most of the way on a dab. Dan Farrer had one of the better rides here with three single dabs, unfortunately no better off than the majority who paddled through.
The last sub at Croglin Falls was by far the hardest of the group with only Pearson and Miles Jones recording first lap cleans on the narrow rock gully which remained greasy all day. The last few feet of the stream caught everyone else out with Thorpe pushing out for three and Crinson, Farrer and Matthew Jones all needing single prods. On a mission was Tim Pearson who parted with two dabs.
Scarrowmanwick Steps remained greasy all day. On the first, Richard Allen had the line absolutely perfect before parting with a soft dab just before the ends cards. Chris Pearson blamed his Dad for observing the middle sub as he put his foot down on the top of the huge boulder in the stream, then blamed him again on the second lap as he replicated his first lap ride. The last sub took marks off all but Thorpe, Crinson, Pearson and Matthew Jones, but Mick Boam did come out clean after slipping off the Scorpa and lying in a couple of feet of water, a feat he managed to repeat on his second lap.
The final man-made section didn't cause too much bother but number 13, Adam Lynam, did entertain the crowd with a trip over the bars, before Gary Bingley was put right out of his stride with a dozen hostile hecklers cheering him through the section, enough in fact to cause him to fall off to the great amusement of the gathering.
After the first lap, Crinson led on five, followed, by Matt Jones on six, Pearson seven and Thorpe on eight. As the sections improved most riders returned lower scores on their second lap, with Thorpe's single dab on the top Coombe's Gulley sub being his only loss, enough for him to edge out his rivals with a total of nine.
Pearson needed two at Coombes and that other single at his Dad's, whereas Crinson cast five more singles which was to double his first lap score, enough to cost him top Novogar spot. In the Over 40 class, Boam took the win despite a spirited comeback by Allen on his second lap.
Sam Clark was a clear winner on the 50/50 Route, with laps of nine and ten, with local Stu Gaskell and Carl Shaw needing to be separated by the most ones tie-breaker after both had dropped 28 marks.
79th alan trophy trial Newbiggin, in Cumbria (Cumberland County Motorcycle Club)
Premier: Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) 9.
Novogar points scorers: Chris Pearson (Sherco) 10 marks lost (40x0), John Crinson (Scorpa) 10 (38x0) Matthew Jones (Sherco) 12, Miles Jones (Montesa) 17, Dan Farrer (Gas Gas) 18, Jonathan Walker (Gas Gas) 23, Shaun Fox (Beta) 30, Andy Chilton (Montesa) 32, Steve Dixon (Scorpa) 39, Mick Boam (Scorpa) 42, Richard Gaskell (Scorpa) 42, Andy Blackman (Gas Gas) 44, Ashley Bell (Sherco) 46, James Harland (Montesa) 46, Richard Allen (Gas Gas) 47.
50/50 Route: Sam Clark (Montesa) 19, Stuart Gaskell (Scorpa) 28 (most ones), Carl Shaw (Montesa) 28, Paul Heys (Beta) 30, Sean Isherwood (Beta) 34, Ian Strickland (Beta) 34, Mark Barrow (Beta) 35, Anthony Hayhurst (Sherco) 42, Paul Jackson (Sherco) 42.
Premier Award winner Dan Thorpe wheelies his Gas Gas to a National Trial victory on Sunday.