Manx Thor the memories
By TMX Archives on 2nd Sep 11
Dan Thorpe secured his second Manx Two-Day Trial victory, 11-years after his first win, with a rock-steady performance on the John Shirt Gas Gas at the weekend. An avid supporter of the event, the 33-year-old finally went one better than his legendary father, Dave, whose solitary win in the main event came in 1977 riding a Bultaco.
Thorpe Jnr rode the opening day of 44 sections in the south of the island for a single dab, adding a five and a couple of stray dabs on a tougher, but shorter 41-section northern route on Sunday for a two-day total of eight.
"I replicated Steve Colley's famous Superman impression when I went over the bars on the toughest section at Dhoon Quarry on Sunday, but it was the only five I had," said Dan, after chalking up the 101st national win of his career.
Late entry Phil Disney saw second place go begging with a brace of fives on Sunday, including a particularly galling one on the penultimate section of the trial at The Arches, just off Douglas Promenade, where he collided with a sizeable Sycamore tree a metre from the ends cards.
But the damage had already been done earlier in the day and the Appleyard Beta rider had to settle for fourth at the close,
losing out to the local duo of Josh Brain and Barry Kinley.
Brain, recently turned 19 but already a veteran of four Manx Two-Days, was a close third overnight, one mark down on Disney, and ended with an overall total of 21 marks on his 300 Gas Gas, including a single five on the same third section that also caught out winner Thorpe at Dhoon Quarry in the closing stages.
Kinley was fifth overnight on 13, but he had a strong Sunday to finish a single mark down on teenager Brain in third place. His only five of the weekend came on the opening slate climb at South Barrule Quarry where he felt he had been harshly penalised.
Behind Disney in fourth, Barham's Ben Wibberley and Isle of Man Centre champion Nigel Crellin rounded off the list of
special award winners.
Tony Scarlett, a winner of this event in his debut ride back in 1983, secured the Over-40s award in eighth spot, while Keelan Hancock was the best newcomer in 14th, receiving the last of the second class awards.
Bradford's Graham Tales won the Clubman class at the first attempt after dropping down from the National for the first time since making his Manx Two-Day debut as a 17-year-old in 1980 on a 325 Bultaco. After numerous top-six finishes, with a best of fourth, this was his first podium event in an event he has contested for more than 30-years.
Overnight, Tales led with a loss of three marks – two fewer than 2008/09 Clubman winner Darren Wasley – who was equal on five with Isle of Man based Cumbrian, Nigel Sharp. Another local, Andrew Woodward, was a close fourth on six, followed by Kevin Hart of Dorset on seven and Gavin Black of the Hillsborough club on eight.
At the close, Tales was nine clear of Wasley with Robert Shuttleworth muscling his way into the top-three from an overnight 14th. Nigel Crowther took the Over-50 award in seventh spot overall.
NATIONAL MANS TWO-DAY TRIAL
Douglas, Isle of Man
SOLO CLASS
Premier: Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) 7 marks lost.
Runner-up (Manx Solo) Under 21: Josh Brain (Gas Gas) 21.
Third: Barry Kinley (Gas Gas) 22.
Fourth: Phil Disney (Beta) 28.
Fifth: Ben Wibberley (Gas Gas) 36.
Sixth: Nigel Crellin (Gas Gas) 39.
First Class Awards: Josh Woods (Gas Gas) 50.
Over 40: Tony Scarlett (Beta) 51.
Second Class Awards: Ross Hancock (Beta) 62, Miles Jones (Beta) 66, Chris Madigan (Sherco) 66.
Newcomer: Keelan Hancock (Gas Gas) 71.
Team: Bradford A: 208.
CLUBMAN ROUTE
Premier: Graham Tales (Beta) 17.
Runner-up: Darren Wasley (Gas Gas) 26.
Third: Rob Shuttleworth (Beta) 30.
Over 50: Nigel Crowther (Gas Gas) 37.
Over 40: Jeremy Darlington (Gas Gas) 39.
Newcomer: Kevin Hart (Beta) 45.
Under 21: Andrew Lee (Gas Gas) 52.
Twin-shock: Mark Batty (Suzuki) 63.
Manx Newcomer: Oliver Megson (Gas Gas) 69.
Lady: Kathryn Wardle (Beta) 122.
Team: Hillsborough All Stars 159.
SIDECAR CLASS
Premier: Robin/ Sam Luscombe (Beta) 8.
Runner-up: Rupert/ Chris Kimber (Beta) 10.
Third: Robin/ Gill Morwewood (Sherco) 10.
First Class Award: Tony Crabtree/ Jamie Howe (Sherco) 17.
Manx Sidecar: Juan Knight/ Chris Molyneux (Gas Gas) 22.
Second Class Award: Lee Granby/ Amelia Haigh (Gas Gas) 32.
Over 40: Peter Dale/ Barry Pocock (Beta) 55.
Twin-shock: Paul Fishlock/ Debbie Merrell (Ariel) 202.
Team: Manx Rejects 50.
