Loch, stock and a two-day trial
By TMX Archives on 28th May 09
ONCE again the tussle for the Premier Award at the annual Loch Lomond Motorcycling club's annual Dan Stewart Two-Day Trial was between Kinlochleven rider Gary Macdonald on the MRS1 Sherco and Chesterfield's Dan Thorpe on his JST Gas Gas, with the Scottish rider eventually victorious after Thorpe incurred time faults for finishing seven-minutes over his official time on the second day.
The Saturday run was over the famous longer route of about 65-miles, but thick mist and rain on the day meant that the going was very tough over the extremely soggy and waterlogged moors. Poor visibility kept the running speed down and almost everybody, except the top runners, incurred time penalties for lateness as a result.
Dan was going really well on the Gas Gas and lost his first marks of the day at the very hard top sub at Mulea, the penultimate group, where he dropped a three, with a further one at Last Gasp to finish the first day on just four marks. Gary meanwhile lost three marks at a new sub at Glen-na-Caorinn and the relatively easy lower sub at Invergroin, followed by another four marks at the top sub at Mulea and Last Gasp. The Saturday score cards showed Dan just holding the advantage on four marks with Gary close at hand on seven. Newcomer to the trial, Yorkshireman Lee Sampson, was also posting good results to finish the first day in fourth position behind Andy Cripps, with Teesside rider Roger Williams in fifth spot. Many riders found the going extremely tough with driving rain and thick cloud on the 2,400ft high hill crossing and 36 retirals out of 124 starters was the result which shows just how tough it was out there.
At least the second day proved a little better with dry but cloudy conditions. The soggy ground made for tough going again but many riders finished well within the specified time limit of five hours on the shorter course, two laps of a 12 mile circuit.
Dan and Gary battled it out as usual on Sunday with each eventually losing five marks. However, while Gary handed his score card in bang on time, Dan incurred a seven minute time penalty which was enough to rob him of the win. Lee Sampson and veteran Phil Alderson had cracking rides on Sunday, each finishing with four marks lost over Sunday's two laps to post the best observation scores of the day from Gary and Dan on five. Phil rocketed up the leader-board with Sundays' performance to move from 22nd position on Saturday to finish seventh overall. Sampson was also going well on Sunday to move up from fourth spot on Saturday to clinch an eventual third position overall.
The Loch Lomond club would like to thank all the volunteers and helpers from many other clubs for their assistance and help over the weekend, without which the event could not be run. They are from as far afield as Bristol, Perth, Pontefract, Dalmellington and Lanarkshire. A big thanks to all the helpers who make this unique trial such a success.
Dan Stewart Memorial Two-Day Trial
Loch Lomond MCC
Premier: Gary Macdonald (Sherco) 12 marks lost.
Runner-up: Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas)16.
Over 40: Darren Wasley (Gas Gas) 55.
Best MCUI: Stephen Murphy (Gas Gas)75.
Youth: Richard Sadler (Beta) 82.
Best SACU: Stuart Rockett (Montesa) 138.
First Class Awards: Lee Sampson (Gas Gas) 28, Andrew Cripps (Beta) 54, Ian Hopley (Beta) 58, Phil Alderson (Sherco) 67, Simon Kershaw (Beta) 74, Nigel Crowther (Gas gas) 78, Tony Scarlett (Beta) 80, Roger Williams (Beta) 83, John Hillam (Gas Gas) 87, Anthony Ayrton (Montesa) 87, Rob Loney (Gas Gas) 87.
Katy Sunter concentrates hard as a observer looks on!