Sport Scotland is where it's at
By TMX Archives on 13th May 10
This last fortnight it seemed that ALL the major off-road action had moved north of the border into Scotland because it had
I'M sure that every Scot in the off-road world is well aware of this fact but it only dawned on me last weekend, while doing my bit at the Scottish Six Days Trial, that bonny Scotland has actually been the focus of top-class off-road sport over the last fortnight. And in all honesty, much as I'd like to, it is not every week that I am able to write that!
Of course the Scottish Six Days has a permanent place in the annual off-road diary and the event is not only Scotland's, or even the UKs top trial, it is the best known trial in the world. And it has spawned the best-known Pre-65 Two Day Trial in the world which took place on the Friday/Saturday before the Six Days and which has now been entrenched for over a quarter of a century.
And the even continues to grow even as we speak. This year a commemorative road run was organised to go round the Moidart peninsula on the classic Scottish route with time to stop-off at historic former sections such as the Devils Staircase.
The run was supposed to be for older riders and indeed motorcycle celebrities of the standing of former European MX champ Dave Bickers and speedway legend Barry Briggs attended but its also fair to say that all kinds of Scottish enthusiasts tagged-on and enjoyed a great day out. And, as you'd expect the call immediately went out for this to become an annual event.
Looks like the Scottish just gained yet another extra day – that's 10 days at the moment.
So while we are on a roll can I get in first and predict – I should really demand – that the next ‘extra' be a Twin-shock Scottish!
You may scoff but I reckon that a single or two-day trial for Twin-shock machines would be every bit as popular as the Pre-65 event has become. It would even serve a vital function by actually relieving pressure on the Pre-65! How? Well, the call is forever going up that many riders are too ‘young' to ride the Pre-65 (despite the fact that Pre-65 bikes are all (at least in theory) 45 years old. So if only riders who actually rode the Scottish in 1965, and lets assume that they were just 16 years old at the time, as indeed we all once were, they would now be at LEAST 61 years old. So if we bring the Twin-shocks into it in their own event, all the original gaffers can battle it out in Pre-65 and all the ‘young-guns' (let's say up to 50 years old) can crack-on with Bultacos, Montesas, Ossas, Majesties, SWMs, Suzukis, etc.
So, that's given the Edinburgh club something to do in their idle moments! Which is, of course, I very much hasten to add, said in jest. The guys and gals of the club and in particular the Scottish Six Days committee do a tremendous job each May.
This year they had to overcome an outbreak of the nasty Novabug virus which wiped-out around a dozen officials each day. Something that they can ill afford yet they still provided a cracking event and you could barely see the join where they patched things up on a daily basis.
But the past two weeks has seen much more than the world's best trials north of the border. On the weekend last, the ACU British Motocross Champs headed north from their English heartlands to Duns where those present witnessed some of the fastest and closest racing seen in this year's series to date. And it was great for the home boys that Stephen Sword was up there battling for MX1 honours on board the CCM.
Swordy never seems to enjoy the best of luck but a trio of second places on the day didn't do his British Champs bid any harm at all. Incidentally, motorsport fans of the four-wheel variety, at least those old enough to know such things, will know that Duns was the home town of one of Britain's finest ever racing drivers, Jim Clark, Formula 1 champion, ace rally driver in a Lotus Cortina and so modest with it. So the small Scottish town that you might not have heard of before British Championship MX arrived has an excellent motorsport pedigree.
Then of course, to complete the hat-trick the British Enduro Championship took place last weekend, way-up north, to Elgin which I would wager not too many people could hit with a pin on a large map. That David Knight was able to run away with the win didn't surprise anyone. David is a unique rider and give him a sniff or a win, specially on going that suits him – and he admitted that it did – then the big Manxman is going to take some stopping.
Tom Sagar gave him a run though and it is well worth pointing out that Tom was riding in the Scottish Six Days and was actually holding 12th place on standard Montesa four-stroke on Wednesday night having completed the day's 30-sections for just a single dab. Only Dougie Lampkin, with a clean ride, stoipped Tom claiming a Best on Day trophy!
Tom was disappointed that he was then withdrawn from the Scottish by his Suzuki team in order to prepare for the weekend's British Enduro round – where he finished as runner-up!
Talented lad is Tom.