Thorpe lans the knut!
By TMX Archives on 14th Dec 06
NORTHERN challenger Dan Thorpe had a remarkable ride in winning the Bath and West of England club's National Knut Trial at Lansdown, North of the Roman city on Sunday.
In a total of 42 sections set in half a dozen main groups, he lost just four marks, one on a climb over rock boulders at Shackels, another in the last section at Ayford Lane, which was the only group remaining in the route for first ever event in the 50s, and two more single debits in the gathering gloom at the final group, Aldermoor, was his lot.
Home counties star Sam Connor, South West area champion Joe Baker, 13 times Wessex Centre kingpin Colin Crease, Wayne Holdsworth and Welsh ace Gary Jenkins were in close contention in the early stages of the final Novogar series event, but as the going became tougher in the rain Thorpe forged ahead.
Winner of the event 50-years ago in 1956 Swindon farmer JRJ (Jim) Webb and his 500 HT Ariel, was on hand at the Lansdown and Langridge Village Hall start venue to greet the 65-starters together with Wessex Centre historian Brian Newbury who was armed with numerous newspaper cuttings and programmes of the long established event going back through the ages.
NOVOGAR TRIALS CHAMPS
Rd 10 (Final) – Knut Trophy Trial (Bath & West of England MCC)
NOVOGAR POINTS SCORERS: Colin Crease (280 Gas Gas) 33 marks lost, Wayne Holdsworth (280 Gas Gas) 34, Gary Jenkins (290 Sherco) 38, John Cowley (270 Beta) 39, Jack Lee (290 Sherco) 42, Chris Pearson (290 Sherco) 43, James Fry (290 Sherco) 49, Stephen Foord (290 Sherco) 54, Dave Clinkard (250 Beta) 57, Jason Bayliss (290 Sherco) 57, Richard Allen (250 Montesa) 64, Shaun Fox (Gas Gas) 71, Ross Danby (125 Gas Gas) 72, Barry Husband (270 Beta) 81, Simon Welch (Beta) 81.
PROVISIONAL FINAL SERIES STANDINGS after 10 rounds (Best 9 results): 1 Chris Pearson 151 (161) points (CHAMPION), 2 Liam Walker 127, 3 Gary Jenkins 88, 4 Crinson 86, 5 Jones 79, 6 Haslam 75, 7 Fry 59, 8 Ludgate 50, 9 Holdsworth 48, 10 Farrer 47, 11 Hick 44, 12 Lee 31, 13 Crease 29, 14 Smith 28, 15 Sunter 24, 16 Fox 20, 17 Crosswaite 17, 18 Roberts 17, 19 Kendrew 17, 20 Dixon 16,...
Expert: Daniel Thorpe (280 Gas Gas) 4 marks lost, Sam Connor (270 Beta) 21, Joe Baker (Scorpa) 29.
First Class: Colin Crease (280 Gas Gas) 33, Wayne Holdsworth (280 Gas Gas) 34.
Over 40: John Cowley (270 Beta) 39.
Newcomer: Gary Jenkins (290 Sherco) 38.
125cc Class: Ross Danby (125 Gas Gas) 72.
Best Bath Club Member: Simon Prideaux (250 Montesa) 121.
Best Wessex Centre Member: Jeremy Cross (280 Gas Gas) 117.
For full report, results and pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, December 15, 2006.