Twin-tastic! - Kia Twin-shock Review 2015

KIA were helpful from the start, thanks to enthusiastic trials-mad northern dealer Dave Dench of Triangle Motors, Chesterfield, and for 2015 the second year of the series became the KIA National Twin-shock series which comprised eight carefully chosen rounds as more and more clubs wanted in.

Venues ranged from as far south as Cornwall to as far north as Newcastleton on the Cumbria/ Scottish border with a goodly selection in between, kicking off at Congleton again with a mighty three figure entry. 

These were spread across the three main classes and the series included both Expert and Clubman options and numbers were pretty even across the board.

Clubman Twin-shock and Pre-65 classes were neck and neck as the most popular classes, both boasting over 40 championship points scorers.

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly Historic Spanish models proved thin on the ground as the series was initially heavily influenced by giving these machines a run out with suitable sections. 

Maybe the Bultacos, Montesas and Ossas will pick up as the series progresses and interestingly they are certainly more popular as Clubman mounts rather than Experts.

The air-cooled mono classes are certainly on the up with Yams and Fantics popular choices. Pre-65s has sported a good variety of Cubs, Bantams, Dots etc and is always popular.

After opening at Mow Cop, Congleton, Nene Valley staged the second round at Daventry before the Red Rose club in Lancashire enjoyed a good day at the compact Feniscowles venue.

In round four, multiple British trials champ Steve Saunders and the Zona One MCC put on the first really tricky event of the series when heavy rain turned the sections at Aggs Hill,  high above Cheltenham, into ever more challenging  hazards as the day wore on.

Alan Wright reckoned that though harder than intended, the series actually benefitted from the difficulty after the opening three rounds  at Congleton, Daventry and the Red Rose had been 

won on clean sheets. 

The Cheltenham venue and organisation  was just brilliant and the organisers will certainly be asked to run there again .

Round five took contenders to Wadebridge in Cornwall in early August – a month that on reflection is not ideal for travelling down that M5  to the South West. 

But the piece of land that organiser John Young (on behalf of the Cornish ACU) used was acclaimed by all of the entry of 65. 

Natural stream beds and wide open climbs abounded and free umbrellas, Cornish pasties and red wine greeted riders and observers at the finish. 

"Just the social atmosphere that used to exist,” claimed all that were there. 

But a lesson was learned by the series organisers that big entries don't equate to running events in far off places in the holiday season.

A fortnight later the series moved north. Well north actually, to the idyllic Scottish bordertown of Newcastleton   close to the enormous Kielder forest. 

There, on a beautiful summer morning, 85 entrants from the length and breadth of the country gathered to tackle a course set out by Carlisle enthusiast Paul Norman. 

It had all that Paul had promised and justified the faith in him that the series organisers had long pondered over.

Two seven mile laps over the fells taxed everyone. It was exciting, challenging and tiring. 

The sections were natural, varied and set in the heart of a vast raw countryside that had not seen a trial for 24 long years. 

Paul Norman planned and achieved an immense task. It wasn't perfect but it was extremely good and of all the trials this year this is the one that will be long  remembered. 

North Eastern star Colin Ward's ride for just two dabs on his 1988 air-cooled mono Yamaha was incredible. All who rode were well tired the next morning.

A three-week break took the series to Llangollen for the Aqueduct club's penultimate round. Blessed with a choice of land, Russ Jones laid on an event that again saw smiling faces in all  four classes. 

Although beaten by local star Phil Houghton on a very early Gas Gas, Steve Bird on his Yam wrapped up the class win and retained his title.

Ossa-mounted Steve Bisby tied up the Historic Spanish class win and the series title while on the hard route in the Britshocks (Pre-72 British bikes) Oxford's Dot-mounted Rob Faulkner convincingly retained his series crown.

Again the route and sections reflected this exquisite area while a long way to travel from the south of England, who wants to ride pocket handkerchief courses with four laps of 10 nadgery sections. 

This series typifies how trials used to be in the day and that is the very  simple  objective.

The final round was staged at Knighton on Sunday, October 25, which was a perfect end to the series and left competitors and those thinking about riding looking eagerly ahead to 2016.

Congratulations to all class winners especially the hard fought classes like Expert Twin-shock where David Carter pipped popular trials dealer Richard Allen. 

This class saw several well known riders make odd appearances including three-time world champ Yrjo Vesterinen on a Bultaco while no fewer than three riders rode just once – and won. 

Better

Step forward Mick Thompson, Gary Younghusband and Steve Martin. 

Maybe 2016 will see them ride more often – or maybe there will be more one-off winners!

And Clubman Twin-shock saw David Braithwaite, mounted on a very well prepped and nicely tweaked 325 Beamish Suzuki, just get the better of Kevin Miller. 

The Japanese powered machines with British chassis weren't the most competitive mounts in the day but David rides his very well.

The beauty of this series is that it caters for a really wide variety of rider skill and machinery. 

Events are selected to allow riders a decent run out, all off-road rather than four laps round a field and the sections are aimed at good sport, not stoppers.

Whatever you own, Britshock, Historic Spanish, Twin-shock or Air-cooled mono you are sure of a cracking event. Get those bikes prepped and TMX bring you a series preview prior to the opening round...