No stop Dan!
By TMX Archives on 12th Nov 09
DAN Thorpe delivered the right result again on Saturday when he won the 62nd Northern Experts Trial in sunny Derbyshire, cleaning 30 of the 40 sections on the two-lap Manchester 17 MCC promoted Wildboarclough trials route. For the JST Gas Gas star it was a third-time Northern Experts premier, first in1999, then victory last year and again on Saturday.
Manchester 17 ran stop-permitted rules on Saturday but Dan rode his usual smooth style, not needing to take a stop, so the rule worked fine for him. For Thorpe it was a couple of dabs in Plantation section four, where the heavy mud on the exit lines and turns caused problems. Observer Eddie Dewe recorded few cleans on this tester.
Thorpey enjoyed a clean run on both laps to the narrow gurgling stream that ended the new three sections
at Correction Brook which Clerk of Course Ken Roberts slotted in to keep riders off the open moorland above Cumberland Corner and therefore prevent creating any tell-tale tracks across the heather.
Ken was in benevolent mood, having loaned his JST Gas Gas to Mancunian character Andy Cripps after the latter had found his own rig bereft of front wheel bearings just before the start. Mr Cripps, ever the gentleman, switched from Expert class to Clubman to avoid destroying Ken's pride and joy, in Ken's own sections.
62nd NATIONAL NORTHERN EXPERTS TROPHY TRIAL
Wildboarclough, nr Macclesfield (Manchester 17 MCC Ltd)
EXPERT ROUTE
Expert: Dan Thorpe (300 JST Gas Gas) 14 (Northern Experts Trophy), Jack Challoner (290 Beta UK) 20, George Morton (290 Beta) 25, Dan Farrer (280 JST Gas Gas) 30, Craig Robinson (280 JST Gas Gas) 34, Miles Jones (250 Montesa) 60.
CLUBMAN ROUTE
Expert: Andy Cripps (KR Gas Gas) 10 (33x0), Richard Allen (280 Gas Gas) 11, Jonathon Frost (280 Gas Gas) 27 (25x0), Paul Bennett (290 Sherco) 29 (25x0), Rob Bowyer (250 Gas Gas) 33.
Over 40: Darren Wasley (300 Gas Gas) 6, Mick Boam (250 Scorpa) 10 (35x0), Steve Swanson (250 John Lee Montesa) 19, Ian Watts (290 Beta) 26 (26x0), Mike Edwards (250 Gas Gas) 32 (24x0), Jon Lee (300 John Lee Beta) 32 (23x0), Paddy Edwards (250 Gas Gas) 35 (23x0,8x1), Pete Ruscoe (250 Gas Gas) 35 (22x0), Dave Knaggs (280 Gas Gas) 35 (20x0), Philip Scott (300 Beta) 38.
Inter: Gavin Black (250 Montesa) 12, Liam Robinson (250 JST Gas Gas) 22, Michael James (250 Beta) 25, Stu Day (250 Gas Gas) 26 (23x0), Matt Lord (290 Sherco) 27 (29x0), Iain Robinson (250 Gas Gas) 28.
Novice: Joel Sadler (Acklams Beta) 20, Katy Sunter (250 JST Gas Gas) 26 (27x0), Sam Clarke (290 Beta) 27 (26x0), Lewis Black (300 Gas Gas) 29 (24x0), Matt Timperley (250 Beta) 30, Michael Benn (250 Gas Gas) 35 (23x0,9x1).
FOR FULL STORY SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2009
Jack Challoner was on a mission for the win but had to be content with runner-up spot after mistakes on the 13th section allowed Thorpe to get himself in front.